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The localizing value of auras in partial seizures

A prospective and retrospective study

Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, PQ, Canada.

Doubts concerning the localizing significance of auras in partial seizures have recently been expressed. Prompted by this, we studied this issue by re-examining two groups of patients: the first, studied retrospectively, consisted of patients in whom the site of origin of the seizures was known beyond a reasonable doubt; the second, studied prospectively, comprised patients in whom specific auras were correlated with the localization of interictal epileptiform EEG abnormalities and the final diagnostic impression. The data from the retrospective series were suitable for rigorous statistical analysis. The two groups yielded similar results: the frequency of auras in partial seizures and the localizing significance of those for which large enough numbers could be collected was high. We conclude that the type of aura, when elicited by careful history-taking, provides as useful localizing, but often not lateralizing, information as the EEG and modern high-technology procedures such as CT, MRI, and PET.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Pierre Gloor, Montreal Neurological Institute, 3801 University St., Montreal, PQ, Canada H3A 2B4.

Supported in part by a grant from CAPES to Dr. Palmini.

Received June 27, 1991. Accepted for publication in final form September 25, 1991.

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