Long term sequelae of amygdala enlargement in temporal lobe epilepsy.

Purpose: Amygdala enlargement (AE) has been reported in drug resistant lesional and non-lesional temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Its contribution to development of intractability of epilepsy is at best uncertain. Our aim was to study the natural course of AE in a heterogenous group of TLE patients with follow-up imaging and clinical outcomes.

Complications of endoscopic third ventriculostomy in previously shunted patients.

Objective: Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is considered to be a safe and effective treatment in selected patients as an initial treatment for obstructive hydrocephalus and at the time of shunt malfunction in previously shunted patients. We compared the outcome and complications of ETV between patients with newly diagnosed hydrocephalus and those with previous shunting procedures.

Methods: A retrospective review of patients undergoing ETV from 1996 to 2004 at Alberta's Childrens Hospital and Foothills Medical Centre was completed.

Optimizing epilepsy surgery with intraoperative MR imaging.

Purpose: The surgical treatment of medically intractable temporal lobe epilepsy includes the resection of temporal lobe structures. Although the reported seizure-free outcomes are highly variable, there is growing evidence that the extent of resection of the mesiotemporal lobe directly correlates with seizure control.

Methods: A moveable, high-field intraoperative magnetic resonance (MR) system was used to monitor and optimize the resection of the amygdala and hippocampus in 14 epilepsy patients.