Auras olfatorias en pacientes con epilepsia

Abstract

Epilepsy is a chronic cerebral disease characterized by recurrent, self-limiting seizures of very variable etiology, whose clinical manifestations include a range of signs and symptoms related to the affected cortical zone. Uncinated seizures or olfactory hallucinations have been described since the 19th century as a particular, often unpleasant smell at the beginning or during the spell. The anatomy and unique properties of the olfactory cortex are involved in temporal lobe epilepsy, where sensation modalities including smell are integrated. The involvement of the piriform cortex is associated with refractory epilepsy. In this article, we review and analyze the current literature on the anatomy and physiology of smell; and its relationship with epilepsy.