Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE) is the most classical subtype of temporal lobe epilepsy, which is the indication of surgical intervention after evaluation. Until now, anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL) is still the recommended treatment for mTLE. However, evidences are accumulated including post ATL tetartanopia and memory deterioration and new minimized invasive treatments are introduced. Stereotactic EEG (SEEG) guided radio-frequency thermocoagulation (RF-TC) is one of the option with lower seizure freedom but with higher neurological function reservation. This study is aiming at comparison of the efficacy and safety between SEEG guided RF-TC and classical ATL in the treatment of mTLE.

Nowadays, more and more patients received SEEG implantation for the evaluation of intractable seizures. SEEG is not only a diagnostic method to locate the origin of the epileptic seizures but also a media to treat or to cure this disease. Using radiofrequency thermocoagulation, we are able to coagulate some part of the brain guided by SEEG. However, until now, we don't have high level evidence for the efficacy and safety of RF-TC. In our resent series, we found the 1 year seizure free rate of mTLE patients after RF-TC is about 80% without any notable complication.

In this trail, we will compare the efficacy as well as the safety of anterior temporal lobectomy with RF-TC for the mTLE patients, including the 1 year Engel class, perioperative complications, cognitive function, visual field, etc. Thus we can provide more high level evidence on the usage of SEEG guided RF-TC on mTLE patients.

Inclusion Criteria:

Clinical diagnosis of drug resistant epilepsy

At least one or more anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) regular administered for more than 2 years, one of which was either Dilantin, Tegretol, Carbatrol, or Trileptal used in appropriate doses, have failed due to inefficacy, not intolerance

Persistence of disabling seizures at least 3 times per 3 months or greater, and once or more in recent 1 month

14 years or older at enrollment

Simple and complex partial seizures, with or without secondarily generalized seizures beginning in childhood or later, with or without febrile convulsions earlier

Auras that occur in isolation and are not primary sensory other than olfactory or gustatory

I.Q. of greater than 70

Hippocampal atrophy on MRI T1 imaging with increased ipsilateral mesial signal on T2 imaging

Interictal EEG shows focal or lateralized spikes on temporal, frontal zone, or sphenoid electrode

Ictal EEG onset is focal or lateralized on the ipsilateral side

Ipsilateral temporal focal hypometabolism on PET

Must be agreed by a consensus of ipsilateral mesial temporal origin by a multidisciplinary discussion

Must be able to understand and speak Mandarin

Exclusion criteria:

A history of serious cerebral insult after the age of 5

A progressive neurological disorder; mental retardation (I.Q. less than 70)

Psychogenic seizures

Focal neurological deficits other than memory disturbances

Any unexplained focal or lateralized neurological deficits other than memory dysfunction.

Temporal neocortical or extratemporal lesions on MRI

Psychosis, current or recent substance abuse, suicidality, anorexia, or psychogenic seizures

Severe systemic diseases

Unequivocal focal extratemporal EEG slowing or interictal spikes

Lesions on MRI outside of the mesial temporal area

Diffuse unilateral or bilateral hypometabolism on positron emission tomography (PET)

Contralateral or extratemporal ictal onset

Persistent extratemporal, or predominant contralateral focal interictal spikes or slowing, or generalized interictal spikes

Patient who was included in any clinical trial

Pregnancy

The baseline information and follow-up data are available to other researchers.

Within 1 year after the last follow-up.

PI of any of Epilepsy center