Epilepsy

Overview

Epilepsy is a nervous system disorder (neurological disorder) in which the nerve cell activity in your brain is disturbed, causing you to experience unusual behavior and sensations, loss of consciousness, or seizures.

Why choose Mayo Clinic for epilepsy

• Expertise and experience. Mayo Clinic doctors trained in brain and nervous system conditions (neurologists) and brain and nervous system surgery (neurosurgeons) have expertise and experience in evaluating and treating people who have epilepsy. Neurologists and neurosurgeons at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota have experience treating children who have epilepsy. Mayo Clinic doctors evaluate and treat thousands of people who have epilepsy each year. Read more about epilepsy volumes and outcomes.
• Team approach. Mayo Clinic neurologists, neurosurgeons, imaging specialists (radiologists), mental health specialists (neuropsychologists) and others work together to diagnose and treat adults and children who have epilepsy.
• Diagnostic tools. Mayo Clinic doctors use advanced technology, including subtraction ictal SPECT coregistered to MRI (SISCOM), electroencephalography (EEG), computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography and other tests to accurately diagnose epilepsy. Each Mayo Clinic location offers an inpatient video-EEG monitoring unit.
• Treatment expertise. Mayo Clinic doctors have expertise treating epilepsy with medications, vagus nerve stimulation, surgery, awake brain surgery, ketogenic diet and other options. Mayo Clinic surgeons use computer-assisted brain surgery to precisely operate in your brain.
• Efficient system. Mayo Clinic doctors evaluate your condition and develop a treatment plan, often within a few days.
• Research. Mayo Clinic doctors conduct research in potential diagnostic tests for epilepsy. Mayo Clinic doctors developed SISCOM, an imaging technology that accurately pinpoints seizure locations. Researchers also study potential treatments including medications, deep brain stimulation, surgery and other treatments for epilepsy, and conduct clinical trials.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., is ranked among the Best Hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report. Mayo Clinic also ranks among the Best Children's Hospitals in neurology and neurosurgery.

Why Choose Mayo Clinic
What Sets Mayo Clinic Apart

Read more about diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy. Also read about epilepsy surgery.