Advances in Brain Imaging Techniques for Patients With Intractable Epilepsy

Mubarak Algahtany; Ahmed Abdrabou; Ahmed Elhaddad; Abdulrahman Alghamdi

doi:10.3389/fnins.2021.699123

Advances in Brain Imaging Techniques for Patients With Intractable Epilepsy

Front Neurosci. 2021 Aug 6:15:699123. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2021.699123. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Mubarak Algahtany¹, Ahmed Abdrabou², Ahmed Elhaddad³, Abdulrahman Alghamdi⁴

Affiliations

¹ Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia.
² Department of Radiology, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
³ Department of Radiology, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
⁴ Department of Radiology, Aseer Central Hospital, Abha, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Intractable epilepsy, also known as drug resistance or refractory epilepsy, is a major problem affecting nearly one-third of epilepsy patients. Surgical intervention could be an option to treat these patients. Correct identification and localization of epileptogenic foci is a crucial preoperative step. Some of these patients, however, have no abnormality on routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain. Advanced imaging techniques, therefore, can be helpful to identify the area of concern. Moreover, a clear delineation of certain anatomical brain structures and their relation to the surgical lesion or the surgical approach is essential to avoid postoperative complications, and advanced imaging techniques can be very helpful. In this review, we discuss and highlight the use of advanced imaging techniques, particularly positron emission tomography (PET)-MRI, single-photon emission computed tomography, functional MRI, and diffusion tensor imaging-tractography for the preoperative assessment of epileptic patients.

Keywords: advance; brain imaging; epilpesy; subtle lesion; surgery.

Publication types

Review