• Introduction
• What is a temporal lobe resection?
• Who is a candidate for temporal lobe resection?
• What happens before temporal lobe resection surgery?
• What happens during temporal lobe resection surgery?
• What happens after temporal lobe resection surgery?
• How effective is temporal lobe resection?
• What are the side effects of temporal lobe resection?
• What are the risks of temporal lobe resection?

Introduction

The largest part of the brain, the cerebrum, is divided into four paired sections, called lobes-the frontal, parietal, occipital and temporal lobes. Each lobe controls a specific group of activities. The temporal lobe, located on either side of the brain just above the ear, plays an important role in hearing, language and memory. In people with temporal lobe epilepsy, the area where the seizures start - called the seizure focus - is located within the temporal lobe. This is the most common type of epilepsy in teens and adults.

What Is a Temporal Lobe Resection?
A temporal lobe resection is an operation performed on the brain to control seizures. In this procedure, brain tissue in the temporal lobe is resected, or cut away, to remove the seizure focus. The anterior (front) and mesial (deep middle) portions of the temporal lobe are the areas most often involved.

Who Is a Candidate for Temporal Lobe Resection?
Temporal lobe resection may be an option for people with epilepsy whose seizures are disabling and/or not controlled by medication, or when the side effects of medication are severe and significantly affect the person's quality of life. In addition, it must be possible to remove the brain tissue that contains the seizure focus without causing damage to areas of the brain responsible for vital functions, such as movement, sensation, language and memory.

From the Doctors at MedicineNet.com

Epilepsy (Seizure Disorder) - Learn about epilepsy, or seizure disorder. Causes include head injury, trauma, prenatal injury, poisoning, medications, stroke, heart attacks, alcoholism, infection, and more. Symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment information is included in the information. Source:Government Seizures Symptoms and Types - Read about seizure symptoms and types such as generalized, grand-mal, absence, myoclonic, clonic, tonic, atonic, and partial. Symptom listing is included in the information. Source:WebMD Medical Reference from The Cleveland Clinic Questions To Ask Before Surgery - Surgery questions to ask prior to having a procedure are important. Your surgeon should be available to answer your surgery questions prior to the procedure. Source:MedicineNet Read 8 more Temporal Lobe Resection related articles ... So Much to Do, So Little Sleep Head Injuries All Too Common in Summer Play Health Tip: The Word on Wisdom Teeth Health Tip: Make Exercise a Daily Habit New Source of Heart Stem Cells Found Health Highlights: June 23, 2008 Poorer Patients Have Poorer Survival After Cancer Diagnosis One Gene May Be Key to Myeloma Crocodile Babies Cry Out for Hatching Immune Molecule Key to Preventing Organ Rejection