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The localizing value of ictal EEG in focal epilepsy

From the Departments of Neurology (Drs. Foldvary, Klem, and Lühders), Biostatistics and Epidemiology (Dr. Hammel), and Neurosurgery (Dr. Bingaman), The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, OH.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Nancy Foldvary, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Department of Neurology, Section of Epilepsy and Sleep Disorders, 9500 Euclid Avenue, S-51, Cleveland, OH 44195; e-mail: foldvan{at}ccf.org

Objective:— To investigate the lateralization and localization of ictal EEG in focal epilepsy.

Methods:— A total of 486 ictal EEG of 72 patients with focal epilepsy arising from the mesial temporal, neocortical temporal, mesial frontal, dorsolateral frontal, parietal, and occipital regions were analyzed.

Results:— Surface ictal EEG was adequately localized in 72% of cases, more often in temporal than extratemporal epilepsy. Localized ictal onsets were seen in 57% of seizures and were most common in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE), lateral frontal lobe epilepsy (LFLE), and parietal lobe epilepsy, whereas lateralized onsets predominated in neocortical temporal lobe epilepsy and generalized onsets in mesial frontal lobe epilepsy (MFLE) and occipital lobe epilepsy. Approximately two-thirds of seizures were localized, 22% generalized, 4% lateralized, and 6% mislocalized/lateralized. False localization/lateralization occurred in 28% of occipital and 16% of parietal seizures. Rhythmic temporal theta at ictal onset was seen exclusively in temporal lobe seizures, whereas localized repetitive epileptiform activity was highly predictive of LFLE. Seizures arising from the lateral convexity and mesial regions were differentiated by a high incidence of repetitive epileptiform activity at ictal onset in the former and rhythmic theta activity in the latter.

Conclusions:— With the exception of mesial frontal lobe epilepsy, ictal recordings are very useful in the localization/lateralization of focal seizures. Some patterns are highly accurate in localizing the epileptogenic lobe. One limitation of ictal EEG is the potential for false localization/lateralization in occipital and parietal lobe epilepsies.

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