Related Experiment Videos
Corpora amylacea in hippocampal sclerosis
W Van Paesschen1, T Revesz, J S Duncan
1Epilepsy Research Group, University Department of Clinical Neurology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK. Wim.Vanpaesschen@uz.kuleuven.ac.be
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
|October 29, 1997
Summary
Corpora amylacea are often found in hippocampal sclerosis. This study found no significant clinical or MRI differences in patients with or without corpora amylacea, suggesting it’s a response to neuronal loss.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pathology
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Corpora amylacea are amorphous, basophilic extracellular inclusions found in the central nervous system.
- They are frequently observed in aging brains and in various neurological disorders, including hippocampal sclerosis.
- The clinical and imaging significance of corpora amylacea in hippocampal sclerosis remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate potential clinical and quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) differences between hippocampal sclerosis with and without corpora amylacea.
- To correlate the density of corpora amylacea with neuronal density in affected hippocampal subregions.
- To assess the impact of corpora amylacea presence on seizure outcomes following epilepsy surgery.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 46 resected hippocampi from patients with temporal lobe epilepsy.
- Quantification of corpora amylacea density using a three-dimensional microscopical counting technique.
- Correlation of corpora amylacea density with neuronal density and assessment of clinical/MRI characteristics and surgical outcomes.
Main Results:
- Corpora amylacea were present in 63% (26/41) of hippocampal sclerosis specimens, predominantly in the CA1 subregion.
- A significant inverse correlation was observed between corpora amylacea density and neuronal density in the CA1 subregion.
- No significant differences in clinical presentation, quantitative hippocampal MRI characteristics, or seizure outcome were found between hippocampal sclerosis with and without corpora amylacea.
Conclusions:
- The formation of corpora amylacea appears to be a pathological response to neuronal cell loss in hippocampal sclerosis.
- Corpora amylacea presence does not appear to have discernible clinical or quantitative MRI correlates in hippocampal sclerosis.
- The findings suggest that corpora amylacea do not adversely affect seizure outcomes after temporal lobe epilepsy surgery.