RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate postoperative seizure outcome in children with drug-resistant epilepsy not eligible for focal resection who underwent corpus callosotomy. METHODS: The study included 16 patients undergoing corpus callosotomy between September 2015 and May 2018. Seizure semiology and frequency, psychomotor status, and video electroencephalography and imaging findings were evaluated for all patients. RESULTS: Of the 16 patients who underwent callosotomy during the study period, 11 underwent complete callosotomy and 5 underwent anterior only. Seizure improvement greater than 75% was achieved in 37.5% of patients, and another 50% of patients had seizure improvement of 50%-75%. No sustained neurological deficits were observed in these patients. There were no significant complications. Duration of postoperative follow-up ranged from 12 to 44 months. CONCLUSIONS: Corpus callosotomy is an effective treatment for selected patients with drug-resistant epilepsy not eligible for focal resection in resource-limited settings. Fostering and developing international epilepsy surgery centers should remain a high priority for the neurosurgical community at large.
RESUMEN
Cortical tubers associated with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) are potential epileptic foci that are often amenable to resective or ablative surgeries, and controlling seizures at a younger age may lead to improved functional outcomes. MRI-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy (MRgLITT) has become a popular minimally invasive alternative to traditional craniotomy. Benefits of MRgLITT include the ability to monitor the ablation in real time, a smaller incision, shorter hospital stay, reduced blood loss, and reduced postoperative pain. To place the laser probe for LITT, however, stereotaxy is required-which classically involves head fixation with cranial pins. This creates a relative minimum age limit of 2 years old because it demands a mature skull and fused cranial sutures. A novel technique is presented for the application of MRgLITT in a 6-month-old infant for the treatment of epilepsy associated with TSC. To the authors' knowledge this is the youngest patient treated with laser ablation. The authors used a frameless navigation technique with a miniframe tripod system and intraoperative reference points. This technique expands the application of MRgLITT to younger patients, which may lead to safer surgical interventions and improved outcomes for these children.