MRI-negative refractory partial epilepsy: Role for diffusion tensor imaging in high field MRI

Chen, Qin; Lui, Su; Li, Chun-Xiao; Jiang, Li-Jun; Ou-Yang, Luo; Tang, He-Han; Shang, Hui-Fang; Huang, Xiao-Qi; Gong, Qi-Yong; Zhou, Dong

doi:10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2008.03.009

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Volume 80, Issue 1 , Pages 83-89, July 2008

MRI-negative refractory partial epilepsy: Role for diffusion tensor imaging in high field MRI

Qin Chen
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
Su Lui
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
Chun-Xiao Li
- School of Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Li-Jun Jiang
- Department of Psychiatry, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Luo Ou-Yang
- School of Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
He-Han Tang
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
Hui-Fang Shang
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Xiao-Qi Huang
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Department of Psychiatry, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Qi-Yong Gong
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Division of Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3GB, UK
Dong Zhou
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Corresponding author. Fax: +86 28 85423550.

Received 7 December 2007; received in revised form 25 February 2008; accepted 10 March 2008.

Summary

Objective

Our aim is to use the high field MR scanner (3T) to verify whether diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) could help in locating the epileptogenic zone in patients with MRI-negative refractory partial epilepsy.

Method

Fifteen patients with refractory partial epilepsy who had normal conventional MRI, and 40 healthy volunteers were recruited for the study. DTI was performed on a 3T MR scanner, individual maps of mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) were calculated, and Voxel-Based Analysis (VBA) was performed for individual comparison between patients and controls.

Result

Voxel-based analysis revealed significant MD increase in variant regions in 13 patients. The electroclinical seizure localization was concurred to seven patients. No patient exhibited regions of significant decreased MD. Regions of significant reduced FA were observed in five patients, with two of these concurring with electroclinical seizure localization. Two patients had regions of significant increase in FA, which were distinct from electroclinical seizure localization.

Conclusion

Our study's results revealed that DTI is a responsive neuroradiologic technique that provides information about the epileptogenic areas in patients with MRI-negative refractory partial epilepsy. This technique may also helpful in pre-surgical evaluation.

Keywords: Diffusion tensor imaging, MRI negative, Refractory partial epilepsy, 3 T, High field MRI