Premium
Relationships Among Hippocampal Volumetry, Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, and Verbal Memory in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy
Author(s) -
Sawrie Stephen M.,
Martin Roy C.,
Knowlton Robert,
Faught Ed,
Gilliam Frank,
Kuzniecky Ruben
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
epilepsia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.687
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1528-1167
pISSN - 0013-9580
DOI - 10.1046/j.1528-1157.2001.018301.x
Subject(s) - temporal lobe , epilepsy , hippocampal formation , proton magnetic resonance , psychology , neuroscience , verbal memory , audiology , magnetic resonance imaging , nuclear magnetic resonance , medicine , cognition , radiology , physics
Summary: Purpose: To examine the relationship between hippocampal volumes, 1 H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS)‐identified hippocampal metabolic function, and verbal memory in patients with unilateral mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE). Methods: Hippocampal volumes, 1 H MRS‐derived hippocampal creatine to N ‐acetylaspartate (Cr/NAA), and verbal memory assessment were obtained preoperatively in 22 patients (six right, 16 left) with EEG‐defined unilateral MTLE. Results: Left hippocampal volume correlated significantly with left hippocampal Cr/NAA (r = −0.549, p < 0.01), whereas right volume correlated significantly with right Cr/NAA (r = −0.478, p < 0.05). Verbal memory correlated significantly with left hippocampal Cr/NAA (r = −0.594, p < 0.01), but not with left hippocampal volume or right hippocampal measures. Conclusions: Hippocampal volumes and 1 H MRS‐derived metabolite ratios are statistically related, but share only a small percentage of variance, suggesting separate but related pathophysiologic processes. Left hippocampal Cr/NAA appears to be more sensitive to verbal memory function than volumes.