Remain Aggressive Behavior in Children with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy after Surgery

Abstract

Behavioral problems have a high rate in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy but there have been few detailed reports about pediatric patients. We report two children with temporal lobe epilepsy who manifest behavior abnormality remaining after surgery. One child developed complex partial seizures at 10 years and 3 months of age caused by a left temporal ganglioglioma and manifested behavioral problems of lability, aggression, impulsivity and disinhibition. Seizures were relieved after temporal lobe resection at 10 years and 8 months of age but behavioral symptoms had been remained. The second child developed epilepsy at 3 years of age. He manifested similar behavioral problems at 7 years old. Seizures were relieved after temporal lobe resection at 13 years old but behavioral symptoms had been remained. Their courses suggested that aggressive behavior might be associated with not only temporal lesion but also other lesions such as frontal lobe or neural circuitry between both lobes. It is important to inform families of patients that behavioral disorders may not improve after epileptic surgery.