Ictal semiology in lateral temporal epilepsy: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

The six studies included in this systematic review defined the boundaries of the lateral temporal lobe quite heterogeneously and only about two-thirds of patients unambiguously had lateral temporal lobe epilepsy likely explaining the wide spectrum of ictal semiologies. Furthermore, there is often no differentiation into seizure onset versus propagation. Auditory auras represent the only specific semiology for lateral TLE, though this symptom occurs in less than every 10th patient. Comparing lateral versus mesial temporal lobe epilepsy, the presence of epigastric auras and even more so of olfactory/gustatory auras indicates mesial rather than lateral seizure onset.