Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40217403›Full record

ArticleActa epileptologica2025

Whether radiofrequency thermocoagulation guided by stereotactic electroencephalography can benefit drug-resistant epilepsy in the early follow-up stage.

Jingtao Yan, Yuhao Wang, Le Wang, Weipeng Jin, Chuan Du, Guangfeng Li, Deqiu Cui, Shaoya Yin

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Acta epileptologica, 2025. 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. Review
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

8 authors.

Jingtao YanClinical College of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Neurorehabilitation, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300350, China.
Yuhao WangClinical College of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Neurorehabilitation, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300350, China.
Le WangDepartment of Neurosurgery, Huanhu Hospital, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China.
Weipeng JinDepartment of Neurosurgery, Huanhu Hospital, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China.
Chuan DuClinical College of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Neurorehabilitation, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300350, China.
Guangfeng LiClinical College of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Neurorehabilitation, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300350, China.
Deqiu CuiDepartment of Neurosurgery, Huanhu Hospital, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China.
Shaoya YinDepartment of Neurosurgery, Huanhu Hospital, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China. yinsya@hotmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0004-8080-8639

Funding

National Key R&D Program of China 2021YFF1200700
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundStereotactic electroencephalography (SEEG) has emerged as a widely utilized diagnostic approach in epilepsy surgery, demonstrating broad clinical applications and a favorable safety profile. SEEG, when combined with radiofrequency thermocoagulation (RF-TC), facilitates the identification of epileptogenic zones and serves as a therapeutic option that eliminates the need for general anesthesia, thus incuring no additional costs for patients. This study aimed to investigate whether SEEG-guided RF-TC provides early therapeutic benefits.

methodsA retrospective analysis was performed on 44 patients with drug-resistant epilepsy who underwent RF-TC treatment between April 2019 and December 2022, with complete follow-up data available. RF-TC was administered after the recording three or more habitual epileptic seizures in all patients. Demographic characteristics were retrospectively assessed, and treatment outcomes were evaluated using the Engel classification system.

resultsSEEG-guided RF-TC treatment was successfully performed in all patients without significant neurological complications. An average of 7.7 ± 0.4 electrodes were implanted per patient, with a SEEG monitoring duration of 7.5 days (range: 6.8-11). Follow-up after thermocoagulation ranged from 9 to 63 months. At the three-month follow-up, 56.8% of patients achieved Engel I (11 cases) and II (14 cases) were included. At the six-month follow-up, 40.9% of patients achieved Engel grades I (9 cases) and II (9 cases), with five patients proceeding to surgical treatment. By the 12-month follow-up, 40.9% of patients reached Engel grades I (5 cases) and II (13 cases), with a cumulative total of 12 patients undergoing surgical intervention. At the 24-month follow-up, 20.5% of patients achieved Engel grades I (3 cases) and II (6 cases), resulting in a cumulative total of 16 patients undergoing surgical treatment. A statistically significant reduction in seizure frequency was observed before and after thermocoagulation in all 44 patients (P = 0.007), although the therapeutic effect of thermocoagulation decreased over time.

conclusionsSEEG-guided RF-TC is a safe and effective treatment modality for drug-resistant epilepsy. However, as follow-up duration increases, both seizure-free rates and response rates following RF-TC progressively decline.

Indexed as

Drug resistant epilepsyEngel gradingRF-TC guided by SEEG

Identifiers

PMID40217403
PMCPMC11960330

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.