New Method Developed for Triggering and Imaging Seizures in Epilepsy Patients
April 15, 2024
Article published by News Medical Life Science
*Featuring work from CURE Epilepsy Grantee, Dr. Maxime O. Baud
Researchers have developed a new method for triggering and imaging seizures in epilepsy patients, offering physicians the ability to collect real-time data to tailor epilepsy surgery. The goal of epilepsy surgery is to remove the epileptic brain tissue and spare the healthy tissue to control seizures but avoid neurological deficits. Authors used stereotactic electroencephalography (sEEG) leads in targeted brain areas and an imaging approach called ictal SPECT to trigger and image patient-typical seizures. Seizures were successfully triggered in each participant, replicating the patient-typical seizure semiology and electrographic pattern on sEEG without any adverse events. In two patients, the use of ictal SPECT offered complementary information to sEEG and revealed early involvement of brain areas lacking electrode coverage. In the third case, combining sEEG and ictal SPECT provided overlapping information. “Precisely delineating the epileptic brain tissue is essential for successful surgeries, and obtaining timely images of seizures may help formulate surgical plans with increased precision,” said Sabry L. Barlatey, MD, PhD, resident in the Department of Neurosurgery at University Hospital of Bern in Bern, Switzerland.