Post-traumatic temporal lobe lesions: surgical decision making based on CT scan findings.

Background: The indication for surgical treatment of post-traumatic parenchymal lesions in the temporal lobe remains controversial.

Objective: We reviewed the tomographic parameters that might be useful in making surgical decisions.

Method: The tomographic findings of 69 patients were analyzed in a retrospective manner considering: 1) the effects of the lesion (classified into 4 variables: midline shift, status of the cisterns, status of the ventricles, and status of the peripheral sulci); and 2) the characteristics of the lesion: anterior, posterior or anteroposterior location (as defined by a coronal plane tangent to the cerebral peduncles) and its mediolateral diameter.

Pathophysiology of posttraumatic temporal lobe lesions.

Background: Posttraumatic parenchymal lesions in the temporal lobe may cause neurologic deterioration. An analysis was made of the natural evolution of this type of lesion, with emphasis on its 2 components: hemorrhage (hyperdense on computed tomography [CT]), and edema and necrosis (hypodense on CT). The clinical repercussions were studied, and the factors that might influence such evolution were investigated.