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Anterior temporal lobectomy

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Anterior temporal lobectomy is the removal of part of one of the brain's temporal lobes. It is the most common type of surgery for epilepsy.

Anterior temporal lobectomy is used to treat people with temporal lobe epilepsy, the most common type of epilepsy in adults, when antiepileptic medicines fail to control seizures. Temporal lobe epilepsy usually causes complex partial seizures that begin in the temporal lobe. In one study, about 6 out of 10 people had no severe seizures 1 year after anterior temporal lobectomy and about 4 out of 10 people had no seizures at all.1

For a person who has seizures that do not get better with antiepileptic medicines, anterior temporal lobectomy may be a good option. Having surgery may help control epilepsy better than if the person were to keep trying antiepileptic medicines. And the risks of the surgery may be the same as the risks of taking medicine for epilepsy.2

References

Citations

  1. Wiebe S, et al. (2001). A randomized, controlled trial of surgery for temporal-lobe epilepsy. New England Journal of Medicine, 345(5): 311–318.

  2. Engel J Jr, et al. (2003). Practice parameter: Temporal lobe and localized neocortical resections for epilepsy. Report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology, in association with the American Epilepsy Society and the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Neurology, 60(4): 538–547.

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Last Updated: October 29, 2007
Author:
Monica Rhodes
Medical Review:
Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics

Theresa O'Young, PharmD - Clinical Pharmacist

Steven C. Schachter, MD - Neurology


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