3T-MRI analysis of temporal lobe after transsylvian approach for the epilepsy surgical treatment

• Grant number: 14/25358-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2015
• End date: November 30, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Enrico Ghizoni
• Grantee: João Paulo Sant Ana Santos de Souza
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/07559-3 - BRAINN - The Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, AP.CEPID

Abstract

The main objective of the selective approaches in the surgical treatment of the refractory mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) corresponds to the resection of the amygdala and hippocampus with minimal damage to the neocortex of temporal lobe and to the temporal stem. The transsylvian approach has been described as one of the most selective approaches to the ELTM treatment, although a post operative temporal pole atrophy is frequently observed. A potencial temporal lobe disconnection, caused by damage to the temporal stem and its white matter fiber tracts, as well as amygdala and hippocampus resection, is the main hypothesis to such atrophy. Therefore, the objective of this study is to evaluate both the anatomical and the connective consequences of the transsylvian approach to the temporal lobe in the MTLE treatment through 3 Tesla (3T) magnetic resonance. Transversal study will be performed and data will be submitted to appropriate statistical analysis. It is expected, with this study, to define the anatomical and connective consequences to the temporal lobe due to the transsylvian approach in order to evaluate if this approach is really a selective one.