Introduction: Gangliogliomas are an important cause of lesional epilepsy. Seizure control represents an important quality-of-life determinant in patients with these tumors.
Methods: We performed a systematic literature review from 1995-2015 addressing rates of seizure freedom in in patients with gangliogliomas.
Results: Twenty articles were included in the analysis. Across studies, seizure freedom occurred in 63% to 100% of patients. Many studies included follow-up times of greater than 5 years, suggesting that the responses are durable. While significant differences in study populations and treatments preclude meta-analysis, we discuss prognostic factors identified in individual studies. Increased extent of resection, lesser duration of epilepsy, and younger age at surgery have been associated with increased seizure freedom rates in at least two studies each.
Conclusions: Though all studies were retrospective in nature, and are consequently limited by the weaknesses inherent to such investigations, the literature suggests that surgery is able to relieve most ganglioglioma patients--regardless of patient demographics, tumor characteristics, and operative variables--of seizures.
Patient Care: This study summarizes what is known about seizure outcomes in ganglioglioma patients, which facilitates better patient counseling.
Learning Objectives: By the conclusion of this session, participants should be able to: 1) Cite the seizure freedom rate after surgical resection of gangliogliomas, 2) Identify factors that likely relate to seizure freedom in these patients.