A software algorithm has the potential to increase the likelihood of achieving freedom from seizures after epilepsy surgery suggests an analysis of 3 illustrative case studies.
- Researchers from the University of South Florida created the algorithm to individualize the mapping of patients’ epilepsy networks.
- The computer program combines noninvasive EEG source localization with nonconcurrent resting state functional MRI.
- Investigators used scalp EEG and resting state fMRI to gather data on a healthy control subject, a patient with right temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), and one with bitemporal seizure onset.
- Results from the healthy subject found symmetrical global connectivity.
- The patient with right TLE had asymmetry in global connectivity and very little connectivity ipsolaterial to the epileptogenic cortex.
- The patient who had bitemporal lobe epilepsy had symmetrical global connectivity and a network of correlating activity in the cortex that was localized in the epileptogenic tissue of both temporal lobes.
Neal EG, Maciver S, Vale FL. Multimodal, noninvasive seizure network mapping software: A novel tool for preoperative epilepsy evaluation. Epilepsy Behav. 2018; 81:25-32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2018.01.033