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International recommendation for a comprehensive neuropathologic workup of epilepsy surgery brain tissue: A consensus Task Force report from the ILAE Commission on Diagnostic Methods
Author(s) -
Blümcke Ingmar,
Aronica Eleonora,
Miyata Hajime,
Sarnat Harvey B.,
Thom Maria,
Roessler Karl,
Rydenhag Bertil,
Jehi Lara,
Krsek Pavel,
Wiebe Samuel,
Spreafico Roberto
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
epilepsia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.687
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1528-1167
pISSN - 0013-9580
DOI - 10.1111/epi.13319
Subject(s) - cortical dysplasia , epilepsy , hippocampal sclerosis , medicine , epilepsy surgery , neuropathology , magnetic resonance imaging , pathology , temporal lobe , radiology , psychiatry , disease
Summary Epilepsy surgery is an effective treatment in many patients with drug‐resistant focal epilepsies. An early decision for surgical therapy is facilitated by a magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI )—visible brain lesion congruent with the electrophysiologically abnormal brain region. Recent advances in the pathologic diagnosis and classification of epileptogenic brain lesions are helpful for clinical correlation, outcome stratification, and patient management. However, application of international consensus classification systems to common epileptic pathologies (e.g., focal cortical dysplasia [ FCD ] and hippocampal sclerosis [ HS ]) necessitates standardized protocols for neuropathologic workup of epilepsy surgery specimens. To this end, the Task Force of Neuropathology from the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) Commission on Diagnostic Methods developed a consensus standard operational procedure for tissue inspection, distribution, and processing. The aims are to provide a systematic framework for histopathologic workup, meeting minimal standards and maximizing current and future opportunities for morphofunctional correlations and molecular studies for both clinical care and research. Whenever feasible, anatomically intact surgical specimens are desirable to enable systematic analysis in selective hippocampectomies, temporal lobe resections, and lesional or nonlesional neocortical samples. Correct orientation of sample and the sample's relation to neurophysiologically aberrant sites requires good communication between pathology and neurosurgical teams. Systematic tissue sampling of 5‐mm slabs along a defined anatomic axis and application of a limited immunohistochemical panel will ensure a reliable differential diagnosis of main pathologies encountered in epilepsy surgery.