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Focal Cerebral Magnetic Resonance Changes Associated with Partial Status Epilepticus
Author(s) -
Henry Thomas R.,
Drury Ivo,
Brunberg James A.,
Pennell Page B.,
McKeever Paul E.,
Beydoun Ahmad
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
epilepsia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.687
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1528-1167
pISSN - 0013-9580
DOI - 10.1111/j.1528-1157.1994.tb02909.x
Subject(s) - magnetic resonance imaging , ictal , temporal lobe , status epilepticus , partial volume , medicine , epilepsy , partial epilepsy , nuclear medicine , radiology , psychiatry
Summary: We report 2 patients with transient abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) associated with partial status epilepticus (SE). A man with a 4‐month history of partial seizures had complex partial SE for 9 days, with left temporal maximum on ictal EEG. Left temporal lobe T 2 signal was increased on MRI during SE, but cerebral MRI was normal 9 weeks later. A woman with “cryptogenic” temporal lobe epilepsy for 16 years had complex partial SE for 1 week, with right temporal maximum on ictal EEG. T 2 Signal was increased over the entire right temporal lobe, extending into the insula, without mass effect, on MRI 1 month after SE ended. Repeat MRI 1 month later showed marked decrease in volume of increased T 2 intensity, without gadolinium enhancement, but with mild mass effect over the right anteroinferomesial temporal areas. A gemistocytic astrocytoma was resected. Focal cerebral MRI abnormalities consistent with cerebral edema may be due to partial SE but also may indicate underlying glioma, even in long‐standing partial epilepsy. Focal structural imaging changes consistent with neoplasm should be followed to full resolution after partial SE.