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Transient global amnesia after the right temporal epilepsy surgery: A case report
Elisa Schütz1, Dirk-Matthias Altenmüller1, Kathrin Wagner1
1Epilepsy Center, Department for Neurosurgery, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
Epilepsia Open
|July 6, 2024
Summary
Transient global amnesia (TGA) can occur after temporal lobe epilepsy surgery, even though it
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuropsychology
- Epileptology
Background:
- Transient global amnesia (TGA) and transient epileptic amnesia (TEA) present with temporary memory loss.
- Distinguishing between TGA and TEA is crucial, especially in patients with a history of epilepsy.
Observation:
- A 48-year-old patient experienced transient amnesia 10 weeks post-right selective amygdalo-hippocampectomy for temporal lobe epilepsy.
- No epileptiform discharges were observed during the amnestic episode.
- The episode's characteristics (long duration, isolated occurrence, dense anterograde amnesia) were more consistent with TGA than TEA.
Findings:
- The patient remained seizure-free post-surgery and discontinued antiseizure medication.
- Neuropsychological testing revealed complete recovery of anterograde memory functions within 24 hours post-episode.
- This case suggests TGA can occur following temporal lobe epilepsy surgery.
Implications:
- Neurologists must consider TGA in patients presenting with amnesia after temporal lobe epilepsy surgery.
- Accurate differential diagnosis is essential to prevent unnecessary antiseizure medication.
- This case provides the first pre- and post-TGA neuropsychological comparison, demonstrating rapid memory recovery.
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