Presurgical multimodality neuroimaging in electroencephalographic lateralized temporal lobe epilepsy

Ann Neurol. 1997 Dec;42(6):829-37. doi: 10.1002/ana.410420603.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET), hippocampal volumetry (HV), T2 relaxometry, and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (1H-MRSI) in the presurgical neuroimaging lateralization of patients with nonlesional, electroencephalogram (EEG)-defined unilateral temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Twenty-five patients were prospectively studied, along with age-matched controls. T2 relaxometry examinations were performed in 13 patients. Comparison of FDG-PET, HV, and 1H-MRSI was possible in 23 patients. FDG-PET lateralized 87% of patients, HV 65%, N-acetyl aspartate (NAA)/(choline [Cho] + creatine [Cr]) 61%, and [NAA] 57%. Combined HV and NAA/(Cho + Cr) results lateralized 83% of the patients, a value similar to PET. Of 10 patients with normal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, 2 were lateralized with HV, 6 with FDG-PET, 4 with NAA/(Cho + Cr), and 3 with [NAA]. T2 relaxometry lateralized no patients without hippocampal atrophy. Bilateral abnormality was present in 29 to 33% of patients with 1H-MRSI measures and 17% with HV. Only hippocampal atrophy correlated with postoperative seizure-free outcome. FDG-PET remains the most sensitive imaging method to correlate with EEG-lateralized TLE. Both FDG-PET and 1H-MRSI can lateralize patients with normal MRI, but only the presence of relative unilateral hippocampal atrophy is predictive of seizure-free outcome. Bilaterally abnormal MRI and 1H-MRSI measures do not preclude good surgical outcome.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Electroencephalography
  • Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / diagnostic imaging*
  • Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / pathology*
  • Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / physiopathology
  • Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / surgery
  • Female
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Functional Laterality
  • Hippocampus / diagnostic imaging
  • Hippocampus / pathology
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prospective Studies
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed* / methods
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18