Seizure : the journal of the British Epilepsy Association
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Review Historical Article
Amnesia in temporal lobectomy patients: historical perspective and review.
Profound memory loss is a rare but serious complication of temporal-lobe surgery for the relief of medically intractable epilepsy. This paper examines the characteristics of the patients who have been reported to become amnesic following temporal-lobe surgery over the last four decades. ⋯ There is some evidence that bilateral structural hippocampal abnormalities may not necessarily be associated with significant memory problems, if these abnormalities have a developmental basis. However, whilst not necessarily profound, any post-operative deterioration in memory function remains a significant consideration in the presurgical evaluation of temporal-lobe epilepsy patients.