Misleading lateralization by ictal SPECT in temporal lobe epilepsy-- a case report

Epileptic Disord. 2002 Jun;4(2):159-62.

Abstract

A 28-year-old woman with temporal lobe epilepsy underwent presurgical evaluation. Scalp-EEG showed non-localizing seizure patterns. MRI revealed a right hippocampal sclerosis. Ictal HMPAO-SPECT showed a marked left temporal hyperperfusion. Video-EEG monitoring with foramen ovale electrodes (FOE) showed an initial seizure pattern which appeared in the right FOE and which shifted to the left 8 s after clinical onset. Three years after a right temporal lobectomy, the patient is seizure-free. In conclusion, although the ictal SPECT suggested a left temporal seizure focus, the intracranial EEG and the postoperative seizure-freedom confirmed the right-sidelocation of the epileptogenic region. A rapid right-left seizure spread explains the mechanism of falsely lateralizing ictal SPECT.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Electroencephalography
  • Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / diagnosis*
  • Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / pathology
  • Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / surgery
  • Female
  • Functional Laterality*
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Temporal Lobe / pathology*
  • Temporal Lobe / surgery
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*