Long-term outcome and predictors of resective surgery prognosis in patients with refractory extratemporal epilepsy

We analyzed the long-term postoperative outcome and possible predictive factors of the outcome in surgically treated patients with refractory extratemporal epilepsy.

We retrospectively analyzed 73 patients who had undergone resective surgery at the Epilepsy Center Brno between 1995 and 2010 and who had reached at least 1 year outcome after the surgery. The average age at surgery was 28.3±11.4 years. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) did not reveal any lesion in 24 patients (32.9%). Surgical outcome was assessed annually using Engel's modified classification until 5 years after surgery and at the latest follow-up visit.

Following the surgery, Engel Class I outcome was found in 52.1% of patients after 1 year, in 55.0% after 5 years, and in 50.7% at the last follow-up visit (average 6.15±3.84 years). Of the patients who reached the 5-year follow-up visit (average of the last follow-up 9.23 years), 37.5% were classified as Engel IA at each follow-up visit. Tumorous etiology and lesions seen in preoperative MRI were associated with significantly better outcome (p=0.035; p<0.01). Postoperatively, 9.6% patients had permanent neurological deficits.

Surgical treatment of refractory extratemporal epilepsy is an effective procedure. The presence of a visible MRI-detected lesion and tumorous etiology is associated with significantly better outcome than the absence of MRI-detected lesion or other etiology.