Scar Tissue

How long does scar tissue continue to build up?  Does it build up indefinately or does it only build up for a short period of time after surgery?  

I had a right temporal lobectomy for epilepsy ten years ago. It seems that I recently have had aura's and a recent EEG shows mild seizure activity. The neuro said he sees a lot of scar tissue and fluid on the MRI.  I'm wondering if maybe this scar tissue is pressing up againt nerves and that's why it seems like my seizures are coming back after ten years.  But, if scar tissue only builds up over a short period of time after surgery, then that means my seizures aren't back due to the scar tissue.

Thank you!

[help3]

scar tissue in the brain is considered infarctions. any type of infarction or lesion can definately cause seizures. dont know why it would take ten years.are you on any medicine? discontinued it recently??? dunno  kinda weird.... good luck

[GodofredoMD]

Hi.

Your points are valid indeed. Scar tissue usually only builds up as an immediate response to injury or trauma and would not persist for a long time. However, the findings of scar tissue in your brain may not all be related to the previous surgery that was done. Any injury to the brain, whether from trauma or otherwise, would trigger a healing response of gliosis, and this could present itself later on as scar tissue on MRI.

However, this does not mean that your seizures are due to the scar tissue as it would be difficult to ascertain that. Have you experienced seizures since the surgery? Mild seizure activity on EEG is not diagnostic of recurrence and should just be observed for any progression.

Hope this helps.

[batterup]

My husband has had three seizures since 2004, almost every two years. he had his third one just two days ago. also, they have occured while sleeping and I'm a witness to them. His second MRI shows scar tissue from an old head injury(25 years ago) that caused a concussion and required surgery. never had any problems. Then out of the blue one night he had his first seizure. Only symptom is a headache on the side of his old injury. The neurologist says the seizures are triggered by the scar tissue and started him on medication.  I wonder if the scar tissue can be reduced and maybe stop the seizures. Also curious why they only occur every couple of years...

[paul84]

exact same thing happened me.was in car crsh 30yrs ago.im now 40 and neuro reckons scarring on brain is causing seizures now.