2018
Overview
Focal-onset epilepsy, formerly called partial or localization-related epilepsy, is a category of epilepsy in which seizures begin in a specific, limited area of one cerebral hemisphere. The clinical features depend on where the seizure starts, and may include localized motor, sensory, autonomic, or psychic symptoms; focal seizures are further described by whether awareness is retained or impaired, and some spread to involve both hemispheres as focal-to-bilateral tonic-clonic seizures. Focal epilepsy is among the most common forms of the disorder, and its underlying causes range from structural lesions such as scarring, malformations, tumors, or prior injury, to genetic, infectious, and metabolic factors, while in some cases no cause is identified. Diagnosis relies on clinical history, electroencephalography, and neuroimaging to localize the seizure focus, and treatment includes antiseizure medication and, for drug-resistant cases, surgery or neurostimulation. Within the scope of the International Journal of Epilepsy, research addresses the mechanisms, classification, and management of focal and other seizure types, including the study of genetic factors in patients with epilepsy. This page gathers peer-reviewed, open-access research relevant to focal-onset epilepsy, its origins, diagnosis, and treatment.
Research published in this journal
1 peer-reviewed article, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.