Stereo-electroencephalography-guided radiofrequency thermocoagulation in patients with MRI-negative focal epilepsy

Coupled with stereo-electroencephalography (SEEG), radiofrequency thermocoagulation (RFTC) has emerged as a therapeutic alternative for patients with refractory focal epilepsy, with proven safe but highly variable results across studies. The authors aimed to describe the outcomes and safety of SEEG-RFTC, focusing on patients with MRI-negative epilepsy.

A retrospective observational study was conducted on patients evaluated by SEEG in the authors' center. Of 84 total cases, 55 underwent RFTC, with 31 MRI-negative epilepsies that were ultimately included in the study. The primary outcome was freedom from disabling seizures at last follow-up. Secondary outcomes were reduction in seizure frequency (RFTC response = seizure frequency reduction > 50%), peri-interventional complications, and neuropsychological outcomes. Potential factors influencing post-RFTC outcome were considered by comparing different variables between responders and nonresponders.

The mean follow-up period was 30.9 months (range 7.1-69.8 months). Three patients underwent subsequent resection/laser interstitial thermal therapy within the 1st year after RFTC failure. All other patients completed a minimum follow-up period of 1 year. Fourteen patients (45.2%) showed at least a 50% reduction in seizure frequency (responders), and 8 were seizure free (25.8% of the whole cohort). One case showed a permanent complication not directly related to thermolesions. Most patients (76%) showed no significant cognitive decline. Electrically elicited seizures (EESs) were observed in all seizure-free patients and were more frequent in responders (p = 0.038). All patients who were seizure free at the 6-month visit maintained their status during long-term follow-up.

SEEG-RFTC is a safe procedure and leads to a good response in many cases of MRI-negative focal epilepsies. One-quarter of the patients were seizure free and almost one-half were responders at the last follow-up. Although these results are still far from those achieved through conventional resection, a nonnegligible proportion of patients may benefit from this one-stage and much less invasive approach. Factors associated with seizure outcome remain to be elucidated; however, responders were significantly more frequent among patients with EESs, and achieving 6 months of seizure freedom appears to predict a good long-term response. In addition, the positive predictive value of RFTC response may be a valuable factor in the decision to proceed to subsequent surgery.