Corpora amylacea replace the hippocampal pyramidal cell layer in a patientwith temporal lobe epilepsy

A 39-year-old woman, with a 23-year history of medically intractable seizur es of the complex partial type, underwent a left anterior temporal lobectom y and hippocampectomy. Histologic examinations revealed a massive occurrenc e of corpora amylacea, neuronal loss, and gliosis in the pyramidal cell lay er of the hippocampus. The distribution of corpora amylacea in this case wa s quite distinctive and unlike the patterns of "nonspecific" corpora amylac ea formation seen in aging or other neurodegenerative conditions. The patho genetic aspects of the accumulation of these peculiar bodies are discussed in relation to hippocampal sclerosis.