scholarly journals Fluid and White Matter Suppression Imaging and Voxel-Based Morphometric Analysis in Conventional Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Negative Epilepsy

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ke Sun ◽  
Tao Yu ◽  
Dongju Yang ◽  
Zhiwei Ren ◽  
Liang Qiao ◽  
...  

Purpose: Delineation of subtle lesions in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-negative patients is of great importance in preoperative epilepsy evaluation. The aim of our study was to explore the diagnostic value of the novel fluid and white matter suppression (FLAWS) sequence in comparison with a voxel-based MRI postprocessing morphometric analysis program (MAP) in a consecutive cohort of non-lesional patients.Methods: Surgical candidates with a negative finding on an official neuroradiology report were enrolled. High-resolution FLAWS image and MAP maps generated based on high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) T1 image were visually inspected for each patient. The findings of FLAWS or MAP-positive (FLAWS/MAP+) regions were compared with the surgical resection cavity in correlation with surgical outcome and pathology.Results: Forty-five patients were enrolled; the pathological examination revealed focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) in 32 patients and other findings in 13 patients. The positive rate, sensitivity, and specificity were 48.9%, 0.43, and 0.87, respectively, for FLAWS and 64.4%, 0.57, and 0.8, respectively, for MAP. Concordance between surgical resection and FLAWS+ or MAP+ regions was significantly associated with a seizure-free outcome (FLAWS: p = 0.002; MAP: p = 0.0003). A positive finding in FLAWS and MAP together with abnormalities in the same gyrus (FLAWS–MAP gyral+) was detected in 31.1% of patients. FLAWS+ only and MAP+ only were found in 7 (15.5%) and 14 (31.1%) patients, respectively.Conclusions: FLAWS showed a promising value for identifying subtle epileptogenic lesions and can be used as a complement to current MAP in patients with MRI-negative epilepsy.

Neurosurgery ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 187-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jörg Wellmer ◽  
Yaroslav Parpaley ◽  
Marec von Lehe ◽  
Hans-Jürgen Huppertz

Abstract OBJECTIVE Focal cortical dysplasias (FCDs) are highly epileptogenic lesions. Surgical removal is frequently the best treatment option for pharmacoresistant epilepsy. However, subtle FCDs may remain undetected even after high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Morphometric MRI analysis, which compares the individual brain with a normal database, can facilitate the detection of FCDs. We describe how the results of normal database–based MRI postprocessing can be used to guide stereotactic electrode implantation and subsequent resection of lesions that are suspected to be FCDs. METHODS A presurgical evaluation was conducted on a 19-year-old woman with pharmacoresistant hypermotor seizures. Conventional high-resolution MRI was classified as negative for epileptogenic lesions. However, morphometric analysis of the spatially normalized MRI revealed abnormal gyration and blurring of the gray-white matter junction, which was suggestive of a small and deeply seated FCD in the left frontal lobe. RESULTS The brain region highlighted by morphometric analysis was marked as a region of interest, transferred back to the original dimension of the individual MRI, and imported into a neuronavigation system. This allowed the region of interest–targeted stereotactic implantation of 2 depth electrodes, by which seizure onset was confirmed in the lesion. The electrodes also guided the final resection, which rendered the patient seizure-free. The lesion was histologically classified as FCD Palmini and Lüders IIB. CONCLUSION Transferring normal database–based MRI postprocessing results into a neuronavigation system is a new and worthwhile extension of multimodal neuronavigation. The combination of resulting regions of interest with functional and anatomic data may facilitate planning of electrode implantation for invasive electroencephalographic recordings and the final resection of small or deeply seated FCDs.


2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 320-328 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrienne N Dula ◽  
Siddharama Pawate ◽  
Richard D Dortch ◽  
Robert L Barry ◽  
Kristen M George-Durrett ◽  
...  

Background: The clinical course of multiple sclerosis (MS) is mainly attributable to cervical and upper thoracic spinal cord dysfunction. High-resolution, 7T anatomical imaging of the cervical spinal cord is presented. Image contrast between gray/white matter and lesions surpasses conventional, clinical T1- and T2-weighted sequences at lower field strengths. Objective: To study the spinal cord of healthy controls and patients with MS using magnetic resonance imaging at 7T. Methods: Axial (C2–C5) T1- and T2*-weighted and sagittal T2*-/spin-density-weighted images were acquired at 7T in 13 healthy volunteers (age 22–40 years), and 15 clinically diagnosed MS patients (age 19–53 years, Extended Disability Status Scale, (EDSS) 0–3) in addition to clinical 3T scans. In healthy volunteers, a high-resolution multi-echo gradient echo scan was obtained over the same geometry at 3T. Evaluation included signal and contrast to noise ratios and lesion counts for healthy and patient volunteers, respectively. Results/conclusion: High-resolution images at 7T exceeded resolutions reported at lower field strengths. Gray and white matter were sharply demarcated and MS lesions were more readily visualized at 7T compared to clinical acquisitions, with lesions apparent at both fields. Nerve roots were clearly visualized. White matter lesion counts averaged 4.7 vs 3.1 (52% increase) per patient at 7T vs 3T, respectively ( p=0.05).


Author(s):  
Alan P. Koretsky ◽  
Afonso Costa e Silva ◽  
Yi-Jen Lin

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become established as an important imaging modality for the clinical management of disease. This is primarily due to the great tissue contrast inherent in magnetic resonance images of normal and diseased organs. Due to the wide availability of high field magnets and the ability to generate large and rapidly switched magnetic field gradients there is growing interest in applying high resolution MRI to obtain microscopic information. This symposium on MRI microscopy highlights new developments that are leading to increased resolution. The application of high resolution MRI to significant problems in developmental biology and cancer biology will illustrate the potential of these techniques.In combination with a growing interest in obtaining high resolution MRI there is also a growing interest in obtaining functional information from MRI. The great success of MRI in clinical applications is due to the inherent contrast obtained from different tissues leading to anatomical information.


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