Factors affecting interictal unilateral and bilateral discharges and ictal diffusion patterns of scalp electroencephalogram in temporal lobe epilepsy

Background The interictal discharges of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) can be unilateral or bilateral. In addition, the ictal electroencephalogram (EEG) showed the discharges also tend to spread to the contralateral brain in TLE. Objective The factors influencing unilateral and bilateral interictal discharges in TLE as well as ictal diffusion patterns in scalp EEG during onset of seizure were evaluated in the present study. Materials and methods This was a retrospective analysis of 129 patients with TLE. Cases were classified into unilateral and bilateral discharge groups based on interictal discharge patterns in the EEG. Differences between the two groups in age, gender, disease duration, seizure frequency, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, origin of TLE, antiepileptic drug (AED) administration, and ictal diffusion patterns during seizures were statistically analyzed. In addition, the differences in ictal diffusion patterns between left and right TLE were statistically analyzed. Results Statistically significant differences were not observed in gender, disease duration, seizure frequency, MRI findings, administration of AEDs, and ictal diffusion patterns between interictal unilateral and bilateral discharge groups but with statistically significant differences in age and side of origin of the TLE. In addition, whether the EEG-recorded diffusion pattern was confined to the same hemisphere or spread to both hemispheres was investigated and shown statistically significant differences between the left and right temporal lobes. Conclusions Age and side of origin of TLE affects the TLE interictal discharge patterns. Older patients are more prone to bilateral discharges. Bilateral discharges are more common in right TLE, and the onset of EEG more likely to bilateral diffusion in right TLE.