Temporal lobe epilepsy in childhood: review article

Abstract

Introduction:The authors present a review article on temporal lobe epilepsy in childhood. Methods: We performed a search in the literature. Results: The main etiologies of temporal lobe epilepsy in childhood are developmental tumors and focal cortical displasia, besides temporal medial sclerosis. The clinical features may be variable particularly in children younger than six years of age. Epilepsy may present with generalized seizures. Electroencephalographic findings are also variable and show a functional dysfunction of several brain areas besides temporal lobes, especially frontal lobes. Conclusion: Recent advances demonstrate that temporal lobe epilepsy in childhood present with great etiologic, clinical and electroencephalographic diversity.

Comparison of auditory event-related potentials between children with benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes and children with temporal lobe epilepsy

“…However, TLE may be due to structural etiologies such as cortical dysplasia or tumors, mesial temporal sclerosis, and migrational disorders. Clinically, these children may have frequent seizures, characterized by auras and impaired consciousness [44,45]. Their seizures often become resistant to high levels of drugs, requiring surgical procedures [46,47].…”

Temporal Lobe Epilepsy in Childhood – A Study Model of Auditory Processing

“…Thus, the demand of "why" led to the search of a responsible element -whether it is a gene, organ, structure or neurotransmitter -that can always escape. A more profitable demarche, would be trying to answering to the "how" question, especially if we know that in TLEs with spontaneous resolution of the seizures in adolescence, occurs a simultaneous improvement in neuropsychological deficits [20,[23][24][25]. In other words, what we really need is a new paradigm that allows us to explore the consequences of different etiologies.…”

“…The TLE in childhood may be cryptogenic or have several etiologies, being the most frequent of the mesial temporal sclerosis, cortical dysplasia, brain injuries, extrahyppocampal lesions and/or hyppocampal sclerosis, always with progression and expansion to the temporal cortex [24,26]. Regardless of the neuronal origin of epileptic focus, neuropsychological deficits are common among children and adults with TLE, being more serious incidents as higher the frequency of the seizures and the time that linger [23,[27][28][29].…”

Neuropsychological Lateralization of Brain Dysfunction in Children With Mesial Temporal Sclerosis: A Presurgical Evaluation

“…Although neurosurgery has been considered the best therapeutic option to control seizures and reduce long-term medications, it may have an adverse effect on cognition. 3 Plasticity of the developing brain, and the effects of uncontrolled seizures on the brain, make early surgery a possible therapy. All patients with uncontrolled partial seizures are potential candidates for surgery and merit a detailed presurgical evaluation.…”