Vinte e oito estudos intercríticos e 9 críticos/pós críticos de tomografia por emissão de fóton único (SPECT) foram realizados em 27 pacientes com epilepsia do lobo temporal e esclerose mesial temporal. Estudos intercríticos localizaram corretamente a área epileptogênica em 19 (67%) dos pacientes pela análise visual e 16 (61,5%) pela semi quantitativa, com 10,7 e 15,3%, de falsa lateralização respectivamente. Todos os 9 estudos críticos/ pós críticos detectaram o hemisfério epileptogênico e permitiram localização correta da área epileptogênica em 5 de 9 pacientes cujos exames intercríticos haviam sido inconclusivos. Três estudos realizados durante crises secundariamente generalizadas e simétricas mostraram hiperfluxo restrito ao lobo temporal.

Single photon emission tomography (SPECT) was performed in 27 patients with refractory complex partial seizures from the temporal lobes due to mesial temporal sclerosis. Independent blinded observers assessed the 28 interictal studies and 9 ictal/postictal studies. Visual analysis of interictal studies detected hypoperfusion in 22, ipsilateral to the epileptogenic zone in 19 (67%) and contralateral in 3 (10.7%). Quantified temporal lobe asymmetry, greater than a previously derived normal range, correctly identified the epileptogenic zone in 16 (61.5%) with false lateralization in 4 (15.3%). In all 9 cases in which they were performed, ictal/postictal studies showed hypoperfusion at the region of epileptic focus. In 3 patients with complex partial seizures followed by symmetric generalized tonic-clonic seizures, hyperperfusion restricted to the temporal lobe was demonstrated. In 5 of these patients the interictal studies were unable to demonstrate localized changes. There were no significant correlations between SPECT findings and clinical parameters or EEG slowing in the temporal lobes.

Analisamos as manifestações clínicas de 27 crises parciais complexas do lobo temporal registradas em vídeo-EEG com ênfase nas manifestações motoras, principalmente postura distônica, paresia crítica e versão forçada dos olhos e cabeça. A origem das crises no lobo temporal foi baseada na concordância dos exames pré cirúrgicos, que incluiam vários EEGs intercríticos e críticos, alterações na TC e RM do crânio, SPECT intercríticos e, em alguns pacientes, também críticos. 8 pacientes tiveram ressecções temporais; em 7 foi feita lobectomia temporal sendo demonstrada esclerose mesial temporal em 5; 1 paciente foi submetido a amígdalo-hipocampectomia seletiva e o achado anátomo-patológico consistiu de hemossiderose e gliose hipocampal, possivelmente decorrentes de sangramento de um aneurisma gigante da artéria cerebral posterior. Todos os pacientes estão sem crises após a cirurgia. Enquanto postura distônica e paresia crítica, presentes em 18(66.6%) das crises, foram sempre contralaterals à área epileptogênica e assim, de valor indiscutível para lateralização, versão de olhos e cabeça ocorreu tanto ipso como contralateralmente.

We analysed 27 complex partial seizures arising from the temporal lobes recorded on videotape simultaneously with the EEG emphasizing the motor manifestations specially dystonic posturing, ictal paresis and head and eye forced deviation (version). The temporal lobe origin of the seizures was based on the agreement of many scalp-sphenoidal or zygomatic interictal and ictal EEG recordings, CT and MRI findings, interictal and, in some patients, ictal SPECT studies. 8 patients had surgery. In 5 from 7 patients who had temporal lobectomy, mesial temporal sclerosis was the anatomopathological finding and in one patient who had selective amigdalohippocampectomy,.hemosiderosis and gliosis probably due to bleeding of a posterior cerebral artery giant aneurysm was found. All patients have been seizure free after surgery. While dystonic posturing and ictal paresis, present in 18 seizures(66.6%), were excellent as lateralizing seizure signs, since they were always contralateral to the ictal onset, contralateral and ipsilateral versive head and eye movements were observed.