interictal
Pronunciation: in-ter-IK-tal
Referring to the period between seizure episodes in patients with epilepsy.
Full Definition
Interictal describes the time intervals between actual seizure events in individuals with epilepsy, representing the baseline neurological state when the patient is not actively experiencing seizure activity. During interictal periods, EEG recordings may still show abnormal electrical patterns such as spikes, sharp waves, or other epileptiform discharges that indicate an underlying seizure tendency without constituting an actual seizure. Interictal findings are crucial for epilepsy diagnosis and localization, as they can reveal the seizure focus even when the patient appears neurologically normal. The frequency and characteristics of interictal discharges can influence treatment decisions and provide prognostic information about seizure control.
Usage
Usage note: Do not hyphenate; contrast carefully with ictal and postictal in epilepsy documentation.
In Context
- "Interictal EEG monitoring revealed frequent epileptiform discharges over the right temporal region." — Epilepsy evaluation report
- "The patient's interictal neurological examination was entirely normal despite documented seizure activity." — Clinical assessment note