By: Mohammad Hassan Bagheri
Epilepsy surgery is often seen as a last resort for people with drug-resistant seizures, but new research shows that it can be very effective—even in children and young adults with high-grade brain tumors. A recent European study looked at how well epilepsy surgery works in young patients with severe brain tumors and the results are encouraging.
High Success Rate:
– 80% of the patients were completely free of seizures one year after surgery.
– Patients whose tumors were initially thought to be low-grade had even better outcomes, with 91% becoming seizure-free
Improved Quality of Life:
– 84% of patients were free from disabling seizures after about four years of follow-up.
– Surgery helped many patients reduce their need for medication and improve their daily functioning.
Minimal Risks:
– No patients died as a result of surgery or tumor progression.
– About one-third of patients experienced side effects such as weakness, vision problems, or learning difficulties—but these were often linked to the tumor’s location and the complexity of the surgery.
Cognitive Impact:
– While there was a slight drop in IQ scores after surgery, it wasn’t significant enough to suggest major cognitive decline.
What This Means
Epilepsy surgery isn’t just for low-grade tumors—it can also be a game-changer for patients with high-grade brain tumors. The high success rate and low risk of serious complications suggest that more doctors should consider surgery as a treatment option for drug-resistant epilepsy in young patients. Early intervention could improve seizure control and overall quality of life.
Epilepsy surgery is proving to be a safe and effective solution for young patients with tough-to-treat epilepsy caused by brain tumors. For families struggling with drug-resistant epilepsy, this study offers new hope.
Resources:
Lersch, R., Hartlieb, T., Pieper, T., Kudernatsch, M., Hofer, W., Barba, C., Guerrini, R., Giordano, F., Pommella, M., Schubert-Bast, S., Syrbe, S., Rego, R., Pinheiro, J., Feucht, M., Beck, A., Coras, R., Blumcke, I., Alber, M., Tacke, M., Rémi, J., … Borggraefe, I. (2025). Seizure outcomes following epilepsy surgery in pediatric and young adult patients with high-grade brain tumors: Results from a European survey. Epilepsia, 10.1111/epi.18323. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/epi.18323
