Stereotactic surgery of the limbic system in epilepsy.

During the routine follow-up of results of stereotaxic surgery in the patients treated for behaviour disorders, it was found that some of them had a bonus relief from seizures, Out of 260 amygdalotomies, 54 hypothalamotomies and 5 thalamolaminotomies performed for behavioural problems, 107 patients suffered from associated seizure disorder. 76 of them (71%) showed considerable relief from seizures following surgery. This is detailed. It is hypothesized that probably these nuclei of the "limbic system" either initiate and/or propagate seizure activity. This view is supported by the "improvement" in EEG in addition to the clinical improvement seen in these patients.