Corpus callosotomy: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 34: | Line 34: | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist|2}} | {{reflist|2}} | ||
== External links == | == External links == | ||
| Line 50: | Line 47: | ||
[[pl:Kalozotomia]] | [[pl:Kalozotomia]] | ||
[[sv:Corpus callosotomi]] | [[sv:Corpus callosotomi]] | ||
{{WH}} | |||
{{WS}} | |||
Latest revision as of 16:42, 6 August 2012
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Corpus callosotomy (or less frequently, callotomy) is a surgical procedure that disconnects the cerebral hemispheres, resulting in a condition called split-brain.
Most modern callosotomies involve only the anterior portion of the corpus callosum, reflecting the fact that the frontal and temporal lobes are the most commonly involved in the genesis of seizures. The deficits from this modified procedure are milder; side-effects have not been found in some patients (although it is very unlikely that none exist).
The corpus callosum is usually severed in order to stop epileptic seizures. Once the corpus callosum is cut, the brain has much more difficulty sending messages between the hemispheres. Although the corpus callosum is the largest white-matter tract connecting the hemispheres, some limited interhemispheric communication is still possible via the anterior commissure and posterior commissure. This does not have any major effect in everyday circumstances, but, when tested in particular situations, it is obvious that information transfer between the hemispheres is reduced.
MR images of a patient s/p corpus callostomy
References
External links
- Detail on the procedure from epilepsy.com
- Encyclopedia of Surgery: Corpus callosotomy