interictal

Full Definition

Referring to the period between seizure events in patients with epilepsy, when the patient is not actively having a seizure but may still show abnormal brain activity on EEG or neuroimaging. Interictal findings include EEG abnormalities such as spikes or sharp waves, behavioral changes, or cognitive difficulties that persist between seizures. Understanding interictal patterns is crucial for epilepsy management, as these findings can help localize the seizure focus and guide treatment decisions, particularly in presurgical evaluations.

In Context

• "Interictal EEG showed frequent sharp waves over the left temporal region." — EEG interpretation report
• "The patient demonstrated interictal behavioral changes including irritability and attention difficulties." — Epilepsy clinic note