Focal Epilepsy of Psychomotor Type

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Abstract
Since psychomotor epilepsy is the commonest type of focal epilepsy and since antiepileptic drugs are of little value in this condition, attention must be directed toward surgical intervention. Clinical and EEG studies indicate localization in the temporal lobe. Of 23 patients, 12 had no further seizures following extensive gyrectomy or anterior temporal lobectomy. Gross or microscopic pathology was found in association with EEG disturbances in the anterior portion of the temporal lobe in 14 cases. These patients benefited more by surgery than those in whom no pathology was found. Neurological deficits following anterior temporal lobectomy were surprisingly few, limited to occasional transitory auditory agnosia and a rather characteristic "tameness" in comparison with the preoperative state. There was neither impairment of musical perception, visual field defects or olfactory abnormalities. This report, although of a preliminary nature, suggests that radical excision offers hope for selected patients with psychomotor epilepsy who have definite clinical and EEG localization.

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