Lateralized postictal EEG delta predicts the side of seizure surgery in temporal lobe epilepsy

The concordance of lateralized EEG postictal polymorphic delta activity (PPDA) to the side of seizure origin in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) has received limited study. Our objective was to study the lateralizing value of PPDA in patients with documented TLE.

A cohort of consecutive adults with TLE, detailed presurgical evaluation before temporal lobectomy, and minimal follow-up of 2 years were included. One author masked the ictal rhythm of presurgical EEGs and randomly presented 20 s of preictal and the postictal EEG to two electroencephalographers who were blind to all clinical data. They independently assigned PPDA to one of three categories: not present, bilateral, or lateralized (defined as newly appearing or an amplitude >50% of the preictal record).

Eighty seizures from 29 patients were studied. Fifteen patients had a left, and 14 had a right temporal lobectomy. Twenty-three patients were seizure free or substantially improved (defined as simple partial or nocturnal seizures only). Lateralized PPDA was present in 64% of all EEGs and at least one record from 22 (76%) patients. Lateralized PPDA, when present, was concordant with the side of surgery in 96% of the EEGs.

Lateralized PPDA is highly predictive of the side of ultimate temporal lobectomy, and by inference the side of seizure origin.