Callosotomy for the management of intractable non-focal epilepsy: a preliminary personal assessment.

After reviewing the data of the literature, the authors report their personal series composed of twelve cases. In evaluating the results of surgical treatment only the first ten patients are taken into account. As previously stressed in the literature, callosotomy (total in two cases and anterior in the remainder) has proved effective in abolishing or significantly reducing atonic seizures. Tonico-clonic seizures have also benefitted in some cases, while in complex partial and partial seizures the effects of callosotomy have been so far unpredictable, albeit in some patients all kinds of seizures have been abolished or definitely reduced. The most impressive EEG and neuropsychological features after callosotomy are briefly summarized. Anterior callosotomy seems to be a relatively safe procedure, its results appear to be, on the whole, gratifying even though in patients with severe mental retardation and Lennox-Gastaut syndromes remain controversial.