[Psychiatric disorders in temporal lobe gliomas]

Area of Science:

• Neuro-oncology
• Neurology
• Psychiatry

Context:

• Temporal lobe gliomas constitute up to 30% of hemispheric glial tumors.
• Psychiatric disorders can be the sole presenting symptom of temporal lobe lesions.
• Temporal gliomas exhibit diverse psychopathologic and epileptic manifestations compared to other tumor sites.

Purpose:

• To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of psychiatric disorders in a cohort of 140 patients with temporal lobe tumors.
• To analyze the influence of tumor side, localization, histology, and functional asymmetry on psychiatric manifestations.
• To assess the post-surgical changes in psychiatric disorders and seizure activity.

Summary:

• Psychiatric disorders were identified in 72% of patients with temporal lobe tumors, predominantly in glioblastomas.
• Seizures were more common in WHO Grade I and II gliomas, while psychopathologic symptoms were more frequent in left-sided lesions.
• Left-handed patients exhibited a significantly higher incidence of psychiatric disorders compared to right-handed patients.
• Post-surgical follow-up at 2 years showed no statistically significant difference in psychiatric disorder rates.
• Complete seizure remission was observed in 56% of cases following tumor removal.

Impact:

• This study highlights the significant psychiatric burden associated with temporal lobe gliomas.
• Findings underscore the importance of considering psychiatric evaluation in patients with temporal lobe tumors.
• Understanding the relationship between tumor characteristics and psychiatric symptoms can aid in diagnosis and management.
• The results provide insights into the long-term impact of surgical intervention on psychiatric comorbidities.