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Linking MRI postprocessing with magnetic source imaging in MRI‐negative epilepsy
Author(s) -
Wang Zhong I.,
Alexopoulos Andreas V.,
Jones Stephen E.,
Najm Imad M.,
Ristic Aleksandar,
Wong Chong,
Prayson Richard,
Schneider Felix,
Kakisaka Yosuke,
Wang Shuang,
Bingaman William,
GonzalezMartinez Jorge A.,
Burgess Richard C.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
annals of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.764
H-Index - 296
eISSN - 1531-8249
pISSN - 0364-5134
DOI - 10.1002/ana.24169
Subject(s) - cortical dysplasia , concordance , magnetic resonance imaging , epilepsy , medicine , surgical planning , radiology , epilepsy surgery , voxel , false positive paradox , nuclear medicine , artificial intelligence , computer science , psychiatry
Objective MRI‐negative (MRI–) pharmacoresistant focal epilepsy (PFE) patients are most challenging for epilepsy surgical management. This study utilizes a voxel‐based MRI postprocessing technique, implemented using a morphometric analysis program (MAP), aiming to facilitate detection of subtle focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) in MRI– patients. Furthermore, the study examines the concordance between MAP‐identified regions and localization from magnetic source imaging (MSI). Methods Included in this retrospective study were 25 MRI– surgical patients. MAP was performed on T1‐weighted MRI, with comparison to a normal database. The pertinence of MAP+ areas was confirmed by MSI, surgical outcome and pathology. Analyses of MAP and MSI were performed blindly from patients' clinical information and independently from each other. Results The detection rate of subtle changes by MAP was 48% (12/25). Once MAP+ areas were resected, patients were more likely to be seizure‐free (p = 0.02). There were no false positives in the 25 age‐matched normal controls. Seven patients had a concordant MSI correlate. Patients in whom a concordant area was identified by both MAP and MSI had a significantly higher chance of achieving a seizure‐free outcome following complete resection of this area (p = 0.008). In the 9 resected MAP+ areas, pathology revealed FCD type IA in 7 and type IIB in 2. Interpretation MAP shows promise in identifying subtle FCD abnormalities and increasing the diagnostic yield of conventional MRI visual analysis in presurgical evaluation of PFE. Concordant MRI postprocessing and MSI analyses may lead to the noninvasive identification of a structurally and electrically abnormal subtle lesion that can be surgically targeted. Ann Neurol 2014;759–770