For certain patients with epilepsy, there is a specific area in the brain which is the source of all the patient’s seizures. If, at the end of an epilepsy workout, it is revealed that a patient’s epilepsy comes from a small region of the brain, in an area with minimal other function, that patient may be a candidate for a resection of their seizure focus.
The resection of a seizure focus can range from the removal of a small developmental anomaly in the brain, to the removal of a misfiring temporal lobe. The extent and the location of the resection will depend on the patient’s specific type of epilepsy. Often done through a craniotomy, this method is one of the most utilized in the neurosurgeon’s arsenal and often offers the patient the highest rate of seizure freedom.
If you think you or a loved one may be a candidate for a resection of a seizure focus, talk to your doctor, or use our Specialist Finder to locate an expert near you.