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New Techniques and Progress in Epilepsy Surgery

  • Epilepsy (CW Bazil, Section Editor)
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Abstract

While open surgical resection for medically refractory epilepsy remains the gold standard in current neurosurgical practice, modern techniques have targeted areas for improvement over open surgical resection. This review focuses on how a variety of these new techniques are attempting to address these various limitations. Stereotactic electroencephalography offers the possibility of localizing deep epileptic foci, improving upon subdural grid placement which limits localization to neocortical regions. Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) and stereotactic radiosurgery can minimally or non-invasively ablate specific regions of interest, with near real-time feedback for laser interstitial thermal therapy. Finally, neurostimulation offers the possibility of seizure reduction without needing to ablate or resect any tissue. However, because these techniques are still being evaluated in current practice, there are no evidence-based guidelines for their use, and more research is required to fully evaluate their proper role in the current management of medically refractory epilepsy.

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  1. Department of Neurological Surgery, The Neurological Institute, Columbia University Medical Center, 710 W. 168th St, New York, NY, 10032, USA

    Robert A. McGovern, Garrett P. Banks & Guy M. McKhann II

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  1. Robert A. McGovern
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Correspondence to Robert A. McGovern.

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Robert A. McGovern, Garrett P. Banks, and Guy M. McKhann II declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Epilepsy

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McGovern, R.A., Banks, G.P. & McKhann, G.M. New Techniques and Progress in Epilepsy Surgery. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 16, 65 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-016-0661-6

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