Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41603150›Full record

ArticleEpilepsia open2026

Semiology in spontaneous versus cortical stimulation-induced seizures during SEEG: A within-patient comparison study.

Marai Mahizhnan, Stéphane Dufau, John Phamnguyen, Arash Kahrom, Donald Craig, Aileen McGonigal

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in Epilepsia open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Marai MahizhnanEpilepsy Unit, Mater Hospital, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8706-6034
Stéphane DufauMater Research Institute, University of Queensland, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2692-2084
John PhamnguyenEpilepsy Unit, Mater Hospital, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9532-7003
Arash KahromEpilepsy Unit, Mater Hospital, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3927-5485
Donald CraigEpilepsy Unit, Mater Hospital, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9732-1171
Aileen McGonigalEpilepsy Unit, Mater Hospital, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6775-5318

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveWe aimed to study the concordance of seizure semiology in direct electrical stimulation-induced seizures (SIS) compared to spontaneous seizures during stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) and to report on patient-level variables associated with habitual and atypical SIS.

methodsWe retrospectively studied consecutive SEEG cases, performing a within-patient comparison of semiology in spontaneous seizures versus SIS. We classified each patient's SIS as "habitual" or "atypical" using a new electroclinical definition. We then classified patients by maximum clinical expression of habitual SIS: "Aura," "Fragment" (objective fragment ± aura), or "Full." Patient groups with/without SIS and with/without atypical seizures were analyzed regarding demographics, clinical and SEEG characteristics. Reported patient-level variables were categorically expressed as percentages or continuous.

resultsOf the 67 patients undergoing SEEG, all underwent 50 Hz stimulation. Prevalence of patients with SIS was 48/67 (71.6%); most patients had 1-2 SIS. Of 97 SIS, 91/97 (93.8%) were semiologically concordant with habitual spontaneous seizures. Patients' maximum clinical expression of habitual SIS was "Aura" in 14/47 (25.5%), "Fragment" in 16/47 (38.3%), and "Full" in 17/47 (36.2%). Patients presenting any atypical SIS (5/67) accounted for 7.5%; only 1 patient had atypical SIS as the sole SIS. Patients presenting atypical SIS had a tendency to a more widespread epileptogenic zone (EZ) (>1 lobe); none proceeded to surgery following SEEG. There was also a tendency toward female predominance. Rarely, patients with habitual SIS could report "old" habitual semiology triggered during stimulation. SIGNIFICANCE: This within-patient comparison of semiology of spontaneous versus cortical stimulation-induced seizures (SIS), with semiologic stratification and a proposed electroclinical definition of atypical SIS, shows overall high semiologic concordance and a fairly low proportion (7.5%) of patients presenting atypical SIS at 50 Hz. Atypical seizures may occur in conditions where there is an altered stimulation threshold. No correlation was seen between dominant SIS semiologic subtype and surgical outcome. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: This study reports on semiology (clinical symptoms and signs of seizures) in people with epilepsy undergoing in-depth brain exploration for presurgical evaluation. It compares the semiology in seizures occurring spontaneously with the semiology in seizures triggered by direct cortical stimulation. Semiologic similarity was high between spontaneous and stimulation-induced seizures. Atypical seizures triggered by stimulation were fairly rare. Atypical seizures may occur in conditions of altered stimulation threshold. Some patients experienced past seizure semiology reactivated by cortical stimulation.

Indexed as

Cerebral CortexElectroencephalographySeizuresAdolescentAdultChildElectric StimulationFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesStereotaxic TechniquesYoung Adultepilepsy surgerySEEGseizuresemiologystimulation

Identifiers

PMID41603150
PMCPMC13052326

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