1. [Anatomic substrate of epigastric aura: case report].
- Author
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Schmitt JJ and Ebner A
- Subjects
- Abdomen, Adult, Brain Neoplasms pathology, Brain Neoplasms surgery, Cerebral Cortex pathology, Cerebral Cortex physiopathology, Craniotomy, Electroencephalography, Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe pathology, Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe surgery, Hemangioma, Cavernous pathology, Hemangioma, Cavernous surgery, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Tomography, Emission-Computed, Treatment Outcome, Brain Neoplasms complications, Cerebral Cortex surgery, Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe etiology, Hemangioma, Cavernous complications
- Abstract
Epigastric sensations are the most frequent type of aura in medial temporal lobe epilepsy. Until now, the site of the symptomatogenic zone of the epigastric aura remains controversial. The temporal lobe has been discussed, as well as the insular cortex. The case presented here supports the assumption of an insular origin of the epigastric aura. A 44-year-old male suffered from typical psychomotor seizures preceded by an epigastric aura. Imaging revealed a cavernoma located in the right insular region, the ipsilateral temporal lobe being otherwise unremarkable. The lesion was surgically removed, leaving the temporal lobe untouched. Apart from one clinical episode that was unlike his habitual seizures, the patient remained free of seizures (including auras). We conclude that the insular cortex was most likely the symptomatogenic zone for this patient's epigastric auras. Although it can not be excluded that this patient's aura resulted from ictal activation of other brain structures, the successful lesionectomy is in favor of our hypothesis.
- Published
- 2000
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