Multimodal quantitative magnetic resonance imaging analysis with individualized postprocessing in patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy and conventional visual inspection negative for epileptogenic lesions

• Published in: Clinics (São Paulo, Brazil) Vol. 74; p. e908
• Main Authors: Abud, Lucas Giansante, Velasco, Tonicarlo Rodrigues, Salmon, Carlos Ernesto Garrido, Sakamoto, Americo Ceiki, Abud, Thiago Giansante, Pessini, Rodrigo Antonio, Abud, Daniel Giansante, Leite, João Pereira, dos Santos, Antonio Carlos
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Elsevier España, S.L.U 2019; Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo; Faculdade de Medicina / USP; Elsevier España
• Subjects: Adult; Brain Mapping; Computer-Assisted Image Processing; Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted - methods; Drug Resistant Epilepsy - diagnostic imaging; Drug-Resistant Epilepsy; Electroencephalography - methods; Female; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Male; MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL; Middle Aged; Multimodal Imaging; Original; Prospective Studies; Young Adult; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Multimodal Imaging; Computer-Assisted Image Processing; Drug-Resistant Epilepsy
• DOI: 10.6061/clinics/2019/e908
• EISSN: 1980-5322
• ISSN: 1807-5932; 1980-5322

Approximately one-third of candidates for epilepsy surgery have no visible abnormalities on conventional magnetic resonance imaging. This is extremely discouraging, as these patients have a less favorable prognosis. We aimed to evaluate the utility of quantitative magnetic resonance imaging in patients with drug-resistant neocortical focal epilepsy and negative imaging.
A prospective study including 46 patients evaluated through individualized postprocessing of five quantitative measures: cortical thickness, white and gray matter junction signal, relaxation rate, magnetization transfer ratio, and mean diffusivity. Scalp video-electroencephalography was used to suggest the epileptogenic zone. A volumetric fluid-attenuated inversion recovery sequence was performed to aid visual inspection. A critical assessment of follow-up was also conducted throughout the study.
In the subgroup classified as having an epileptogenic zone, individualized postprocessing detected abnormalities within the region of electroclinical origin in 9.7% to 31.0% of patients. Abnormalities outside the epileptogenic zone were more frequent, up to 51.7%. In five patients initially included with negative imaging, an epileptogenic structural abnormality was identified when a new visual magnetic resonance imaging inspection was guided by information gleaned from postprocessing. In three patients, epileptogenic lesions were detected after visual evaluation with volumetric fluid-attenuated sequence guided by video electroencephalography.
Although quantitative magnetic resonance imaging analyses may suggest hidden structural lesions, caution is warranted because of the apparent low specificity of these findings for the epileptogenic zone. Conversely, these methods can be used to prevent visible lesions from being ignored, even in referral centers. In parallel, we need to highlight the positive contribution of the volumetric fluid-attenuated sequence.