Seizures are associated with an increase in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF). In partial seizures the increased blood flow closely corresponds with the site of seizure origin. Using tracers that accumulate and remain "fixed" in different areas of the brain proportional to rCBF at the time of injection, ictal SPECT is now an important tool for localization of seizures in a presurgical evaluation. However, the best methods for interpretation of partial seizure-induced changes in rCBF remain unclear. Numerous computer-aided tools have been used to increase objectivity and accuracy of ictal SPECT analysis. This review examines the uses of ictal-interictal subtraction methods and statistical parametric mapping (SPM) to enhance interpretation and utility of ictal SPECT. The review covers the evolution of advanced ictal SPECT imaging analysis techniques and the authors' clinical experience with the use of subtraction and SPM methods. The authors discuss the impact of ictal SPECT subtraction or difference imaging methods and the initial evidence for proof-of-principle that SPM can be used to provide objective, accurate analysis of ictal SPECT scans in patients with temporal and extratemporal lobe epilepsy. The limitations of both methodologies are discussed, and suggestions for further study of validation, improvement, and routine clinical implementation of advanced analysis methods are provided.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1212/01.wnl.0000132885.83350.45DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

ictal spect
28
spect analysis
8
statistical parametric
8
parametric mapping
8
blood flow
8
ictal
7
spect
6
analysis
5
methods
5
analysis epilepsy
4

Similar Publications

Objective: At our institute, most pediatric patients undergo epilepsy surgery following a thorough presurgical evaluation without intracranial electroencephalography (EEG). We conducted an initial validation of our noninvasive presurgical strategy by assessing the seizure and developmental outcomes of 135 children.

Methods: All 135 pediatric patients were <15 years old, had undergone curative surgery, and were followed for at least 2 years postoperatively.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

A new perspective on drug-resistant epilepsy in children with focal cortical dysplasia type 1: From challenge to favorable outcome.

Epilepsia

December 2024

Department of Pediatric Neurology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, full member of the European Reference Network EpiCARE, Prague, Czech Republic.

Objective: We comprehensively characterized a large pediatric cohort with focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) type 1 to expand the phenotypic spectrum and to identify predictors of postsurgical outcomes.

Methods: We included pediatric patients with histopathological diagnosis of isolated FCD type 1 and at least 1 year of postsurgical follow-up. We systematically reanalyzed clinical, electrophysiological, and radiological features.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) effectively treats severe psychiatric disorders such as depression, mania, catatonia, and schizophrenia. Although its exact mechanism remains unclear, ECT is thought to induce neurochemical and neuroendocrine changes. Positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) have provided vital insights into ECT's neurobiological effects.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The patient was a 69-year-old right-handed woman. She had sensory aphasia, and the brain MRI revealed a subacute phase hemorrhage in the left subcortical temporal lobe. We speculated that the patient had post-ictal aphasia due to symptomatic epileptic seizures associated with cerebral hemorrhage.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is an established prodrome and symptom of synucleinopathies. The pathophysiology of this disorder has been well studied but there is a lack of functional imaging data to illustrate the dysfunction in vivo.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the functional changes of RBD, by performing ictal REM sleep SPECT, comparing subjects with Parkinson's Disease (PD) and evidence of RBD to subjects with PD and no RBD.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!