[Post-traumatic temporal lobe lesions: surgical decision making based on CT scan findings].

BACKGROUND The indication for surgical treatment of post-traumatic parenchymal lesions in the temporal lobe remains controversial. OBJECTIVE We reviewed the tomographic parameters that might be useful in making surgical decisions. METHOD The tomographic findings of 69 patients were analyzed in a retrospective manner considering: 1) the effects of the lesion (classified into 4 variables: midline shift, status of the cisterns, status of the ventricles, and status of the peripheral sulci); and 2) the characteristics of the lesion: anterior, posterior or anteroposterior location (as defined by a coronal plane tangent to the cerebral peduncles) and its mediolateral diameter. RESULTS When none or only one of the aforementioned variables was found to be altered, conservative treatment was instituted (22 out of 38 lesions). In two cases, all four variables were altered, and surgery was performed in both. Anterior, anteroposterior and posterior lesions measuring 21, 23 and 28 mm in diameter, respectively, had a 50% chance of surgical removal. CONCLUSION Amongst the patients who underwent surgical intervention, the more anterior the location of the temporal lobe lesion, the smaller the diameter.