Amygdala enlargement associated with remote epileptogenic lesions.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence and possible causes of amygdala enlargement in patients with drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy.

METHODS

Patients were retrospectively identified via a radiology information system and a large language model. Magnetic resonance imaging scans were visually re-analyzed and amygdala volumetry applied.

RESULTS

The term "amygdala" was used in 89 of 1853 patients. Of those, 54 had lesions in the amygdalae, 20 had isolated amygdala enlargements, and 15 patients had amygdala enlargements and remote epileptogenic lesions. Objective processing of imaging data confirmed higher amygdala volumes of both latter groups (2.09 ± 0.28 mL, 2.23 ± 0.33 mL vs 1.56 ± 0.22 mL).

SIGNIFICANCE: When amygdala enlargement occurs with remote epileptogenic lesions and patients become seizure-free after remote lesion resection, amygdala enlargement is likely the consequence of seizures, but not their cause. In addition, isolated amygdala enlargements can be the consequence of epileptic seizures.