LETTER RE: Neuroimaging of first-ever seizure: Contribution of MRI if CT is normal
Nitin K.Sethi, New York-Presbyterian Hospital., New Yorksethinitinmd@hotmail.com
Submitted June 21, 2014
I read with interest the study by Ho et al.1 on
the contribution of MRI scan in the diagnostic management of
first-ever seizure. Standard MRI may fail to detect
potential focal epileptogenic lesions and thus MRI using a
dedicated epilepsy protocol such as that performed at
epilepsy surgery centers is recommended nowadays.2 That it is superior to CT scan to detect
potential epileptogenic lesions is well-established and the
Ho et al. study attests to this. However, one should not
forget a few situations such as a calcified
neurocysticercosis lesion where a CT scan may have superior
sensitivity for lesion detection.3 When a
potential epileptogenic lesion is detected on MRI, whether
it is the culprit lesion or an incidental finding needs to
be determined, for patients can harbor dual pathologies such
as mesial temporal sclerosis and focal cortical dysplasia.4 With rapid advances occurring in MRI
technology, we can soon expect to have higher resolution MRI
scans with more sensitive imaging protocols. The Ho et al.
study helps reinforce the importance of EEG in the
"neuroimaging" of first-ever seizure. Concordance of EEG and
MRI findings is paramount for establishing the true
epileptogenic potential of the lesion.
Disclosures: N. Sethi serves as Associate Editor for The
Eastern Journal of Medicine.
References
1. Ho K, Lawn N, Bynevelt M, Lee J, Dunne J. Neuroimaging of
first-ever seizure: contribution of MRI if CT is normal.
Neurol Clin Pract 2013;3:398-403.
2. Von Oertzen J, Urbach H, Jungbluth S, et al. Standard
magnetic resonance imaging is inadequate for patients with
refractory focal epilepsy. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry
2002;73:643-647.
3. Patel NH, Jain AR, Iyer VK, Shah AG, Jain DA, Shah AA.
Clinico-diagnostic and therapeutic relevance of computed
tomography scan of brain in children with partial seizures.
Ann Indian Acad Neurol 2013;16:352-356.
4. Sanon NT, Desgent S, Carmant L. Atypical febrile
seizures, mesial temporal lobe epilepsy, and dual pathology.
Epilepsy Res Treat 2012;2012:342928.
Disclosures: N. Sethi serves as Associate Editor for The Eastern Journal of Medicine.
References
1. Ho K, Lawn N, Bynevelt M, Lee J, Dunne J. Neuroimaging of first-ever seizure: contribution of MRI if CT is normal. Neurol Clin Pract 2013;3:398-403.
2. Von Oertzen J, Urbach H, Jungbluth S, et al. Standard magnetic resonance imaging is inadequate for patients with refractory focal epilepsy. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2002;73:643-647.
3. Patel NH, Jain AR, Iyer VK, Shah AG, Jain DA, Shah AA. Clinico-diagnostic and therapeutic relevance of computed tomography scan of brain in children with partial seizures. Ann Indian Acad Neurol 2013;16:352-356.
4. Sanon NT, Desgent S, Carmant L. Atypical febrile seizures, mesial temporal lobe epilepsy, and dual pathology. Epilepsy Res Treat 2012;2012:342928.