Interictal Discharge Pattern in Preschool-Aged Children With Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Before and After Resective Epilepsy Surgery

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the interictal discharge (IID) patterns on pre-operative scalp electroencephalogram (EEG) and compare the changes in IID patterns after removal of epileptogenic tubers in preschool children with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC)-related epilepsy. METHODS: Thirty-five preschool children who underwent resective surgery for TSC-related epilepsy were enrolled retrospectively, and their EEG data collected before surgery to 3 years after surgery were analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty-three (65.7%) patients were seizure-free post-operatively at 1-year follow-up, and 37–40% of post-operative patients rendered non-IID on scalp EEGs, and patients with focal IIDs or generalized IID patterns on pre-operative EEG presented a high percentage of normal post-operative scalp EEGs. IID patterns on pre-operative scalp EEGs did not influence the outcomes of post-operative seizure controls, while patients with non-IID and focal IID on post-operative EEGs were likely to achieve post-operative seizure freedom. Patients with new focal IIDs presented a significantly lower percentage of seizure freedom than those without new focal IIDs on post-operative EEGs at 3-year follow-up. CONCLUSION: Over 1/3 children with TSC presented normal scalp EEGs after resective epileptsy surgery. Patients with post-operative seizure freedom were more likely to have non-IIDs on post-operative EEGs. New focal IIDs were negative factors for seizure freedom at the 3-year follow-up.