Network‐targeted approach and postoperative resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging are associated with seizure outcome

• Published in: Annals of neurology 2019-09, Vol.86 (3), p.344-356
• Main Authors: Boerwinkle, Varina L., Cediel, Emilio G., Mirea, Lucia, Williams, Korwyn, Kerrigan, John F., Lam, Sandi, Raskin, Jeffrey S., Desai, Virendra R., Wilfong, Angus A., Adelson, P. David, Curry, Daniel J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomarkers; Brain - physiopathology; Child; Children; Convulsions & seizures; Correlation analysis; Correlation coefficient; Correlation coefficients; Drug Resistant Epilepsy - complications; Drug Resistant Epilepsy - physiopathology; Drug Resistant Epilepsy - surgery; Epilepsy; Female; Functional magnetic resonance imaging; Humans; Localization; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Neural Pathways - physiopathology; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Postoperative Period; Predictive Value of Tests; Prospective Studies; Resonance; Rest; Sampling methods; Seizures; Seizures - complications; Seizures - physiopathology; Seizures - surgery; Sensitivity and Specificity; Single-Blind Method; Surgery
• ISSN: 0364-5134; 1531-8249
• DOI: 10.1002/ana.25547

Objective Postoperative resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in children with intractable epilepsy has not been quantified in relation to seizure outcome. Therefore, its value as a biomarker for epileptogenic pathology is not well understood. Methods In a sample of children with intractable epilepsy who underwent prospective resting‐state seizure onset zone (SOZ)‐targeted epilepsy surgery, postoperative resting‐state functional MRI (rs‐fMRI) was performed 6 to 12 months later. Graded normalization of the postoperative resting‐state SOZ was compared to seizure outcomes, patient, surgery, and anatomical MRI characteristics. Results A total of 64 cases were evaluated. Network‐targeted surgery, followed by postoperative rs‐fMRI normalization was significantly (p < 0.001) correlated with seizure reduction, with a Spearman rank correlation coefficient of 0.83. Of 39 cases with postoperative rs‐fMRI SOZ normalization, 38 (97%) became completely seizure free. In contrast, of the 25 cases without complete rs‐fMRI SOZ normalization, only 3 (5%) became seizure free. The accuracy of rs‐fMRI as a biomarker predicting seizure freedom is 94%, with 96% sensitivity and 93% specificity. Interpretation Among seizure localization techniques in pediatric epilepsy, network‐targeted surgery, followed by postoperative rs‐fMRI normalization, has high correlation with seizure freedom. This study shows that rs‐fMRI SOZ can be used as a biomarker of the epileptogenic zone, and postoperative rs‐fMRI normalization is a biomarker for SOZ quiescence. ANN NEUROL 2019;86:344–356