Early neurocognitive outcomes following SEEG with radiofrequency thermocoagulation.
10 affiliations
- 1Department of Neurology, Alfred Hospital, Bayside Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
- 2Department of Neuroscience, School of Translational Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
- 3Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
- 4Department of Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
- 5Epilepsy Research Centre, Department of Medicine (Austin Health), The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
- 6Bladin-Berkovic Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, Department of Neurology, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.
- 7Department of Neurosurgery, Alfred Hospital, Bayside Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
- 8Department of Medicine, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
- 9Department of Neurosurgery, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
- 10Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Abstract
Objective
Characterization of early neuropsychological outcomes following SEEG with radiofrequency thermocoagulation (RFTHC) is essential to guide patient expectations around return to work, study, and caregiving. The current study aimed to describe the early neurocognitive sequelae of SEEG.Methods
Consecutive patients undergoing SEEG were prospectively recruited from two tertiary epilepsy centers in Melbourne, Australia. Patients were administered the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) via telehealth before and 3 weeks after SEEG (M = 19.69 days, SD = 4.41). Given the telehealth platform, the coding subtest was substituted for the Symbol Digit Modalities Test, and a modified score of global cognitive function was calculated. To evaluate group changes, paired sample t-tests were performed. Reliable change indices were computed to explore individual-level changes. Pearson's correlation coefficients evaluated relationships between change in global cognitive function and SEEG admission variables. SEEG patients were invited to complete a semi-structured interview canvassing the recovery following SEEG.Results
Twenty-eight patients completed the neuropsychological examination (M = 37.89 years, SD = 9.72, range = 17-56 years, 54% female). All patients underwent RFTHC with a mean of 11.43 (SD = 6.87, range = 2-28) coagulation sites. At a whole group level, 3-weeks post SEEG there was no evidence for global nor domain-specific cognitive change. Reliable change indices with 90% confidence revealed only 4% (1/28) declined on at least two measures and 10% (3/28) showed psychometric improvement. Pearson's correlational coefficients showed no evidence for association between change in global cognitive function with SEEG factors including admission length, number of spontaneous or stimulated seizures, number of electrodes, or number of RFTHC sites. Subjective reports of language change tended to be accompanied by a decline on the RBANS language index that did not meet reliable change criteria. Most patients reported returning to work around 4 weeks post SEEG.Significance
By 3 weeks, gross cognitive functioning tends to be in keeping with pre-SEEG performances for most patients. These findings have direct clinical implications for SEEG neuropsychological counseling.Plain language statement
SEEG is increasingly used to guide epilepsy surgery. Despite this, little is known about the cognitive recovery in the weeks following the procedure. We found that for most patients, broad cognitive functioning 3 weeks after SEEG with coagulation was consistent with function before SEEG, with only a small minority showing significant changes. Some people who reported language difficulties also showed a decline on language testing, although this was often small. Of those patients working before SEEG, most returned to work by 4 weeks. These results provide important evidence to guide patient counseling, recovery planning, and management after SEEG.
Related
- Complementing Engel Classification: Postoperative Scalp EEG as an Objective Indicator in SEEG‐Guided Radiofrequency Thermocoagulation—A Seizure‐Onset Pattern‐Based Stratified Analysis—
- Patient-Reported Outcomes Following Two-Tined Three-Site Conventional Radiofrequency Ablation of Genicular Nerves for Chronic Knee Pain.
- Impact of prolonged balloon inflation on valve expansion and early clinical outcomes following contemporary balloon-expandable transcatheter aortic valve implantation
- Does Timing Matter? Perioperative Outcomes and Quality of Life After Early Versus Delayed Radical Cystectomy Following BCG Therapy
- Early Life Programming of Impaired Neurocognitive Function—What Does It Mean for Public Health?
BibTeX
@article{cockle2026early,
title = {{Early neurocognitive outcomes following SEEG with radiofrequency thermocoagulation.}},
author = {Emily Cockle and Charles B Malpas and Honor Coleman and Alissandra McIlroy and Joshua Laing and Martin Hunn and Matthew Gutman and Stacey Logan and Georgia-Rose Robinson and Cecilia Harb and Catherine Meade and Wendyl D'Souza and Amy Halliday and Kristian Bulluss and Simon Vogrin and Rubina Alpitsis and Terence J O'Brien and Genevieve Rayner and Andrew Neal},
journal = {Epilepsia open},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1002/epi4.70368},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42897841},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Early neurocognitive outcomes following SEEG with radiofrequency thermocoagulation.
AU - Emily Cockle
AU - Charles B Malpas
AU - Honor Coleman
AU - Alissandra McIlroy
AU - Joshua Laing
AU - Martin Hunn
AU - Matthew Gutman
AU - Stacey Logan
AU - Georgia-Rose Robinson
AU - Cecilia Harb
AU - Catherine Meade
AU - Wendyl D'Souza
AU - Amy Halliday
AU - Kristian Bulluss
AU - Simon Vogrin
AU - Rubina Alpitsis
AU - Terence J O'Brien
AU - Genevieve Rayner
AU - Andrew Neal
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/19
JO - Epilepsia open
DO - 10.1002/epi4.70368
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42897841
AB - Objective Characterization of early neuropsychological outcomes following SEEG with radiofrequency thermocoagulation (RFTHC) is essential to guide patient expectations around return to work, study, and caregiving. The current study aimed to describe the early neurocognitive sequelae of SEEG.Methods Consecutive patients undergoing SEEG were prospectively recruited from two tertiary epilepsy centers in Melbourne, Australia. Patients were administered the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) via telehealth before and 3 weeks after SEEG (M = 19.69 days, SD = 4.41). Given the telehealth platform, the coding subtest was substituted for the Symbol Digit Modalities Test, and a modified score of global cognitive function was calculated. To evaluate group changes, paired sample t-tests were performed. Reliable change indices were computed to explore individual-level changes. Pearson's correlation coefficients evaluated relationships between change in global cognitive function and SEEG admission variables. SEEG patients were invited to complete a semi-structured interview canvassing the recovery following SEEG.Results Twenty-eight patients completed the neuropsychological examination (M = 37.89 years, SD = 9.72, range = 17-56 years, 54% female). All patients underwent RFTHC with a mean of 11.43 (SD = 6.87, range = 2-28) coagulation sites. At a whole group level, 3-weeks post SEEG there was no evidence for global nor domain-specific cognitive change. Reliable change indices with 90% confidence revealed only 4% (1/28) declined on at least two measures and 10% (3/28) showed psychometric improvement. Pearson's correlational coefficients showed no evidence for association between change in global cognitive function with SEEG factors including admission length, number of spontaneous or stimulated seizures, number of electrodes, or number of RFTHC sites. Subjective reports of language change tended to be accompanied by a decline on the RBANS language index that did not meet reliable change criteria. Most patients reported returning to work around 4 weeks post SEEG.Significance By 3 weeks, gross cognitive functioning tends to be in keeping with pre-SEEG performances for most patients. These findings have direct clinical implications for SEEG neuropsychological counseling.Plain language statement SEEG is increasingly used to guide epilepsy surgery. Despite this, little is known about the cognitive recovery in the weeks following the procedure. We found that for most patients, broad cognitive functioning 3 weeks after SEEG with coagulation was consistent with function before SEEG, with only a small minority showing significant changes. Some people who reported language difficulties also showed a decline on language testing, although this was often small. Of those patients working before SEEG, most returned to work by 4 weeks. These results provide important evidence to guide patient counseling, recovery planning, and management after SEEG.
SN - 2470-9239
ER -