Corpus Callosotomy or Focal Surgery in Children Presenting With Generalized Tonic Seizures: Findings From the Pediatric Epilepsy Research Consortium

Abstract

Background: To elucidate the clinical profiles and surgical outcomes of patients with generalized tonic seizures (GTSs) undergoing corpus callosotomy (CC) or focal surgery (FS). Methods: Subjects with GTS undergoing CC or FS were identified using the Pediatric Epilepsy Research Consortium surgery database. Between-group comparisons were performed to assess differences in presurgical epilepsy characteristics and postsurgical seizure outcomes. Results: Fifty-four patients (CC: 40 and FS: 14) included. Patients in the CC group had seizure onset at an older age (median = 1 year vs 0.4 years; P = 0.022), and were older at referral for phase-1 evaluation (median = 11.2 years vs 4.85 years; P = 0.026), and at time of surgery (median = 14 years vs 5.6 years; P = 0.008). The CC group showed higher rates of developmental delay (90% vs 57%; P = 0.013) and greater number of antiseizure medications attempted before surgery (median = 6 vs 4; P = 0.049). Electroencephalography localization also differed (P = 0.002), being most commonly generalized (64%, CC group) and multifocal (45%, FS group). Structural magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities were more common in FS group (92% vs 48%, P = 0.008). Median follow-up duration was 13.2 months (interquartile range = 5-24) in the CC group and 13.5 months in the FS group (interquartile range = 8-18). At last follow-up, FS group had a higher rate of seizure freedom (80% vs 19%; P = 0.0006). Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate differences in baseline characteristics and postsurgical outcomes of patients with GTS referred for FS and CC. FS yielded high seizure-freedom rates in focal cases. For patients with no discernible seizure focus, CC was often delayed, though outcomes were generally favorable and delays likely unwarranted.