Epilepsy affects about seventy million of the global population and is a chronic, debilitating condition, with the vast majority of these cases originating in the temporal lobe. Furthermore, epilepsy of the temporal lobe can further subdivide into two categories based on the anatomical origin of epileptic focus:
Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (MTLE): Involving the anatomy of the innermost structure of the temporal lobe, including the hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus, and amygdala; this is the most common form of temporal lobe seizures and is usually secondary to a pathological process known as hippocampal sclerosis (HS).
Lateral Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (LTLE): Also referred to as neocortical temporal lobe seizures. These are very rare and most commonly secondary to genetic or acquired structural/anatomical lesions.
The impact of epilepsy leads to a decrease in quality-of-life indices, shortened life-expectancy, and by extension, bears a significant economic impact for the individual and society.
Copyright © 2025, StatPearls Publishing LLC.