Unusual seizure types.

Abstract

There is no consensus as to what constitutes a diagnostic complex partial seizure type for any given focus. Nevertheless, some forms are seen infrequently, such as in the patient just described who had parietal seizures, whereas others, such as the bland onset followed by oral-alimentary automatisms of temporal lobe epilepsy, are more common. It helps to be aware of the possible origins of these unusual forms when differentiating electrical seizures from pseudoseizures, planning for use of specific pharmacologic treatments, or planning a surgical resection. Although one cannot recommend a surgical resection based on semiology alone, one can place intracranial electrodes more strategically when the hypothesis regarding the seizure focus includes the clinical characteristics of the patient's seizures.