Stereotactic surgery for temporal lobe epilepsy

In light of the recent resurgence of interest in stereotactic functional pr ocedures, the authors have reviewed the role of stereotactic ablative surge ry in the treatment of temporal lobe epilepsy. Literature pertaining to ste reotactic amygdalotomy, hippocampotomy and fornicotomy is reviewed and summ arized. However, the results presented in those early studies are difficult to interpret given the surgical techniques and outcome assessment used. Mo dern stereotactic ablative surgery using current image-guided technology of fers the opportunity to revisit some of these techniques. In recent studies of stereotactic amygdalohippocampotomy, outcomes are not as favorable as t hose obtained with standard temporal resections. However, these relatively discrete ablative techniques may shed light on the anatomical substrate und erlying temporal lobe epilepsy.