The impact of mapping interictal discharges using EEG-fMRI on the epilepsy presurgical clinical decision making process: A prospective study

• Published in: Seizure (London, England) England), 2018-10, Vol.61, p.30-37
• Main Authors: Markoula, Sofia, Chaudhary, Umair J., Perani, Suejen, De Ciantis, Alessio, Yadee, Tinonkorn, Duncan, John S., Diehl, Beate, McEvoy, Andrew W., Lemieux, Louis
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Brain Mapping; Brain Waves - physiology; Clinical Decision-Making - methods; Clinical management process; EEG-fMRI; Electroencephalography; Epilepsy - diagnostic imaging; Epilepsy - physiopathology; Epilepsy - psychology; Epilepsy surgery; Extra-temporal lobe epilepsy; Female; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Oxygen - blood; Preoperative Care; Prospective Studies; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1059-1311; 1532-2688
• DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2018.07.016

•Prospective observational cohort study for the clinical impact of EEG-fMRI.•Sixteen patients (six women) with refractory extra-temporal epilepsy were recruited.•EEG-fMRI results modified the initial surgical plan in 77% of the patients.•Effects included not proceeding with surgery or icEEG coverage modification.•Using EEG–fMRI is a promising tool in epilepsy presurgical evaluation. We set out to establish the clinical utility of EEG-correlated fMRI as part of the presurgical evaluation, by measuring prospectively its effects on the clinical decision. Patients with refractory extra-temporal focal epilepsy, referred for presurgical evaluation were recruited in a period of 18 months. The EEG-fMRI based localization was presented during a multi-disciplinary meeting after the team had defined the presumed Sixteen patients (six women), with a median age of 28 years, were recruited. Interpretable EEG-fMRI results were available in 13: interictal epileptic discharges (IEDs) were recorded in eleven patients and seizures were recorded in two patients. In three patients, no epileptic activity was captured during EEG-fMRI acquisition and in two of those an IED topographic map correlation was performed (between EEG recorded inside the scanner and long-term video EEG monitoring). EEG-fMRI results presentation had no impact on the initial clinical decision in three patients (23%) of the thirteen and resulted in a modification of the initial surgical plan in ten patients (77%) of the thirteen finally presented in MDT; in eight patients the impact was on the planned placement of invasive electrodes and in two patients the EEG-fMRI led to additional non-invasive tests before proceeding further with surgery. The study is a prospective observational cohort study specifically designed to assess the impact of EEG-fMRI on the clinical decision making process, suggesting a significant influence of EEG-fMRI on epilepsy surgery planning.