On the relative merits of invasive and non-invasive pre-surgical brain mapping: New tools in ablative epilepsy surgery

Epilepsy Res. 2018 May:142:153-155. doi: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2017.07.002. Epub 2017 Jul 3.

Abstract

Cortical Stimulation Mapping (CSM) and the Wada procedure have long been considered the gold standard for localizing motor and language-related cortical areas and for determining the language and memory-dominant hemisphere, respectively. In recent years, however, non-invasive methods such as magnetoencephalography (MEG), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) have emerged as promising alternatives to the aforementioned procedures, particularly in cases where the invasive localization of eloquent cortex has proven to be challenging. To illustrate this point, we will first introduce the evidence of the compatibility of invasive and non-invasive methods and subsequently outline the rationale and the conditions where the latter methods are applicable.

Keywords: Cortical Stimulation Mapping; Epilepsy surgery; MEG; Non-invasive; TMS; Wada; fMRI.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Brain Mapping*
  • Electroencephalography
  • Epilepsy / diagnostic imaging*
  • Epilepsy / surgery
  • Humans
  • Language
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Magnetoencephalography
  • Preoperative Care / methods*
  • Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation