Neuropsychological assessment in epilepsy surgery of children

In children with epilepsy, surgical treatment has been recognized as a valuable therapeutic option that can improve the cognitive prognosis and facilitate schooling. Most of the earlier studies focused on general intellectual outcome and behavior. However, substantial progress and new developments in the neuropsychological evaluation of epileptic children treated with surgery have been made over the past few years. Several recent studies explored language, memory, executive functions and behavior in patients undergoing surgery, taking into account cerebral maturation and plasticity processes. Neuropsychological studies have demonstrated greater functional recovery after surgery in children than in adults. Notably, there is evidence of particular reorganization processes for language dominance. Other studies demonstrate that early surgery of temporal lobe epilepsy in children is associated with better memory than in adults. Longitudinal studies are still needed to describe developmental trajectories and optimize neuropsychological rehabilitation. (C) 2008 Elsevier Masson SAS. Tons droits reserves.