The Clinical Manifestation And EEG Features Of 172 Patients With Frontal Lobe Epilepsy

ObjectiveThe aim of the study is to provide the basis for diagnosis and therapy of frontal lobe epilepsy by analyzing the clinical, electroencephalographic characteristics and therapeutic efficacy of 172 patients with frontal lobe epilepsy.Methods172 cases of frontal lobe epilepsy admitted in the epilepsy centre of Peking Union Medical College Hospital from September 2009 to September 2010 were collected, with case history inquired, neurological examination performed in detail. Record and analyze their EEG and neuroimaging carefully. Their therapeutic efficacy, prognosis and side-effect were evaluated.Results98 cases of idiopathic frontal lobe epilepsy from overall 172 cases of frontal lobe epilepsy had distinctive clinical seizure characteristics. The onset age is usually younger than 15 and some of them have epileptic family history. The clinical seizures of frontal lobe epilepsy are complex, including deflection dystonic seizures, simple partial seizures, seizures with hypermotor automatisms, postural dystonic seizures and second generalized seizures, rarely absence seizures and so on. Idiopathic frontal lobe epilepsy is characterized by clusters of nocturnal seizures up to 40 times per night. The interictal VEEG of 90% and 58% cases in sleep showed frontal lobe epileptiform discharge. Drug therapy is effective in 67% with completely controlled and 20% cases with partial controlled.The onset age of symptomatic frontal lobe epilepsy is usually older than 25 and according to Etiology, trauma, cerebrovascular diseases and tumor are the most common causes in 90% cases. The onset age, seizure time, past medical history, neurological and neuroimaging examination play a major role in the differential diagnosis between idiopathic frontal lobe epilepsy and symptomatic frontal lobe epilepsy.ConclusionsFrontal lobe epilepsy is a specific clinical syndrome with a variety of clinical manifestations; Sleep VEEG for the diagnosis of frontal lobe epilepsy is important; idiopathic frontal lobe epilepsy drug treatments are better.