Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38970777›Full record

ArticleEpilepsia open2024

Transient global amnesia after the right temporal epilepsy surgery: A case report.

Elisa Schütz, Dirk-Matthias Altenmüller, Kathrin Wagner, Marcel Heers, Andreas Schulze-Bonhage, Birgitta Metternich

Abstract readCase Reports
In one paragraph

Article in Epilepsia open, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Elisa SchützEpilepsy Center, Department for Neurosurgery, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3015-5906
Dirk-Matthias AltenmüllerEpilepsy Center, Department for Neurosurgery, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8610-2216
Kathrin WagnerEpilepsy Center, Department for Neurosurgery, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2232-1684
Marcel HeersEpilepsy Center, Department for Neurosurgery, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5545-7014
Andreas Schulze-BonhageEpilepsy Center, Department for Neurosurgery, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2382-0506
Birgitta MetternichEpilepsy Center, Department for Neurosurgery, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8517-0081

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Transient global amnesia (TGA) is characterized by sudden and temporary memory impairment, while transient epileptic amnesia (TEA) represents amnestic attacks as the main manifestation of focal epilepsy with presumed temporal origin. We present a 48-year-old patient who experienced transient amnesia 10 weeks after right selective amygdalo-hippocampectomy for right temporal lobe epilepsy. Despite TEA being a plausible explanation for amnesia in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy, no epileptiform discharges were found during the amnestic episode and key features indicative of TGA, including long duration, isolated occurrence, and dense anterograde amnesia of the episode, argued against a diagnosis of TEA in this case. Notably, the patient has remained seizure-free (now 4,5 years) and stopped taking antiseizure medication 32 months after surgery. Although TGA clinical criteria formally exclude patients with recent active epilepsy, neurologists should be aware that TGA can occur after epilepsy surgery in the temporal lobe. Therefore, we consider it of high clinical relevance to establish a careful differential diagnosis between TGA and epileptic amnestic attacks after epilepsy surgery to avoid unnecessary reintroduction or continuation of antiseizure medication. Additionally, this case presents the first comparison of detailed neuropsychological test results before and after a presumed TGA episode, revealing a complete recovery of anterograde memory functions within 1 day. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: A 48-year-old patient experienced an episode of transient amnesia 10 weeks after epilepsy surgery. Given the patient's history, an epileptic origin of the episode initially seemed likely. However, tests revealed no seizure activity during the episode and the characteristics matched a condition called transient global amnesia. This case highlights the importance of correctly diagnosing memory impairments after epilepsy surgery to prevent unnecessary treatment.

Indexed as

Amnesia, Transient GlobalEpilepsy, Temporal LobeAmygdalaFemaleHippocampusHumansMaleMiddle AgedNeuropsychological TestsPostoperative Complicationsepilepsyepilepsy surgeryneuropsychologytemporal lobe epilepsytransient global amnesia

Identifiers

PMID38970777
PMCPMC11450605

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.