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The role of EEG in patients with suspected epilepsy
Author(s) -
Benbadis Selim R.,
Beniczky Sándor,
Bertram Edward,
MacIver Stephanie,
Moshé Solomon L.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
epileptic disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.673
H-Index - 53
eISSN - 1950-6945
pISSN - 1294-9361
DOI - 10.1684/epd.2020.1151
Subject(s) - electroencephalography , epilepsy , ictal , status epilepticus , medicine , epilepsy syndromes , audiology , intensive care medicine , psychiatry
Despite the advances in imaging, EEG remains a critical test for the diagnosis of epilepsy. Not only can it confirm the diagnosis, but it can also clarify the type of epilepsy. There are many different types of EEG recordings depending on duration, the presence of video, and inpatient or outpatient setting, each with its pros and cons. Interictal epileptiform abnormalities are very specific to epilepsy, but they can be over‐interpreted by inexperienced readers. In addition to diagnosis of epilepsy, EEG also has a role in the decision to discontinue treatment in seizure‐free patients, and in assessing critically ill patients for possible status epilepticus and encephalopathies. EEG reports should be relatively standardized and clear to the clinician who requested the EEG.