This is one of the common types of epilepsy presenting partial seizures. The frontal lobe is associated with memory alertness, awareness and anxiety. Depending on the location of the seizure, individuals accordingly exhibit variable types of seizures. It can occur suddenly that are brief and end suddenly presenting confusion and tiredness. In some of the cases, this type of seizures can occur only in sleep. This can include focal (partial) seizures, secondarily generalized seizures or in some cases a combination of these.
Symptoms
The type of seizure is based on the part of the frontal lobe the seizure develops. Individuals with this form of epilepsy experience fear, terror and excitement. In addition, they may also experience shivering, feelings of body heat, choking, salivation and migraine like sensations. When the motor area of the brain becomes affected, it can present abnormal movements on the opposite side of the body and can include weakness of certain muscles. The other common symptoms consist of twisting, turning or grimacing movements. In some of the cases, the individual may be completely aware during the seizure presenting wild movements of the limbs. The only method of identifying whether it has developed in the frontal or the temporal lobes is to obtain an EEG. The complex partial seizures can begin in the frontal lobe that can last less than a minute. The frontal lobe seizures can also occur in clusters.
Causes
In most of the cases, the cause of frontal lobe epilepsy is not known. In other cases, it can be the result of various causes such as the abnormal brain growth, stroke, tumors, scars from prior infections and abnormal blood vessel.
Diagnosis
The only method of diagnosing the location of the brain involved is with the EEG during the seizure. The EEG monitored from the scalp in some cases may not deliver the accurate information as the seizure activity can occur deep in the brain. The frontal lobe seizure may be misdiagnosed as non-epileptic seizures because of the strange symptoms it presents. The tests that can determine the part of the brain affected include intracarotid sodium amobarbital test, neuropsychological test and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Treatment
Medications can well control the frontal lobe seizures. In some cases, when the medication is not effective, additional therapies can include vagus nerve stimulation or surgery. Depending on the cause of the seizures, the outlook also varies. Individuals with brain malformations may require life-long treatment with medications and those that develop as the result of genetics, the seizure may eventually cease. In some cases, it may be necessary to have a surgery to remove the affected part of the brain.
References
http://www.epilepsy.com/learn/types-epilepsy-syndromes/frontal-lobe-epilepsy
http://www.epilepsyqueensland.com.au/frontal-lobe-epilepsy-0
