SURGICAL PATHOLOGY OF EPILEPSY - A REVIEW

This review discusses the neuropathological issues pertaining to tempo ral lobectomies and neocortical resections for medically refractory se izures of childhood. Most cases in our pediatric series are ''lesional '' and have CT/MRI abnormalities that contribute to a higher incidence of ''dual pathology'' lesions rather than pure mesial temporal sclero sis. Almost up to two thirds of our cases are represented by neuronal migration disorders and low grade gliomas. We have also encountered le sions that have both neoplastic and malformative foci, some of which b ehave more like tumors, while others defy precise classification as tu mor or malformation. Our preliminary data indicate a role for cytomega lovirus in some cases of Rasmussen's encephalitis.