EEG-fMRI correlation patterns in the presurgical evaluation of focal epilepsy: A comparison with electrocorticographic data and surgical outcome measures (original) (raw)

The impact of mapping interictal discharges using EEG-fMRI on the epilepsy presurgical clinical decision making process: A prospective study

Seizure, 2018

We set out to establish the clinical utility of EEG-correlated fMRI as part of the presurgical evaluation, by measuring prospectively its effects on the clinical decision. Patients with refractory extra-temporal focal epilepsy, referred for presurgical evaluation were recruited in a period of 18 months. The EEG-fMRI based localization was presented during a multi-disciplinary meeting after the team had defined the presumed RESULTS: Sixteen patients (six women), with a median age of 28 years, were recruited. Interpretable EEG-fMRI results were available in 13: interictal epileptic discharges (IEDs) were recorded in eleven patients and seizures were recorded in two patients. In three patients, no epileptic activity was captured during EEG-fMRI acquisition and in two of those an IED topographic map correlation was performed (between EEG recorded inside the scanner and long-term video EEG monitoring). EEG-fMRI results presentation had no impact on the initial clinical decision in three ...

EEG-fMRI in the presurgical evaluation of temporal lobe epilepsy

Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry, 2015

Drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) often requires thorough investigation to define the epileptogenic zone for surgical treatment. We used simultaneous interictal scalp EEG-fMRI to evaluate its value for predicting long-term postsurgical outcome. 30 patients undergoing presurgical evaluation and proceeding to temporal lobe (TL) resection were studied. Interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) were identified on intra-MRI EEG and used to build a model of haemodynamic changes. In addition, topographic electroencephalographic correlation maps were calculated between the average IED during video-EEG and intra-MRI EEG, and used as a condition. This allowed the analysis of all data irrespective of the presence of IED on intra-MRI EEG. Mean follow-up after surgery was 46 months. International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) outcomes 1 and 2 were considered good, and 3-6 poor, surgical outcome. Haemodynamic maps were classified according to the presence (Concordant) or absence (Disco...

EEG correlated functional MRI and postoperative outcome in focal epilepsy

Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 2010

Background: The main challenge in assessing patients with epilepsy for resective surgery is localising seizure onset. Frequently, identification of the irritative and seizure onset zones requires invasive EEG. EEG-correlated fMRI (EEG-fMRI) is a novel imaging technique which may provide localising information with regard to these regions. In patients with focal epilepsy, interictal epileptiform discharges (IED) correlated BOLD (blood oxygen dependent level) signal changes are observed in approximately 50% of patients where IEDs were recorded. In 70% these are concordant with expected seizure onset defined by non-invasive electroclinical information. Assessment of clinical validity requires post-surgical outcome studies which have, to date, been limited to case reports of correlation with intracranial EEG. We assessed the value of EEG-fMRI in patients with focal epilepsy who subsequently underwent epilepsy surgery and related IED-correlated fMRI signal changes to the resection area and clinical outcome Methods: We recorded simultaneous EEG-fMRI in 76 patients undergoing presurgical evaluation and compared IEDcorrelated pre-operative BOLD signal change with resected area and post-operative outcome. Results : 21 patients had activations on EEG fMRI of whom 10 underwent surgical resection. 7/10 patients are seizure free following surgery and the area of maximal BOLD signal change was concordant with resection in 6/7. In the remaining 3, with reduced seizure frequency post-surgically, there were areas of significant IED correlated BOLD signal change outside the resection. 55 patients had no activation on EEG fMRI of whom 42 subsequently underwent resection. Conclusion: These results show potential value for EEG-fMRI in pre-surgical evaluation. Thornton 3 .

Interictal and ictal source localization for epilepsy surgery using high-density EEG with MEG: a prospective long-term study

Brain, 2019

Drug-resistant focal epilepsy is a major clinical problem and surgery is under-used. Better non-invasive techniques for epileptogenic zone localization are needed when MRI shows no lesion or an extensive lesion. The problem is interictal and ictal localization before propagation from the epileptogenic zone. High-density EEG (HDEEG) and magnetoencephalography (MEG) offer millisecond-order temporal resolution to address this but co-acquisition is challenging, ictal MEG studies are rare, long-term prospective studies are lacking, and fundamental questions remain. Should HDEEG-MEG discharges be assessed independently [electroencephalographic source localization (ESL), magnetoencephalographic source localization (MSL)] or combined (EMSL) for source localization? Which phase of the discharge best characterizes the epileptogenic zone (defined by intracranial EEG and surgical resection relative to outcome)? Does this differ for interictal and ictal discharges? Does MEG detect mesial temporal lobe discharges? Thirteen patients (10 non-lesional, three extensive-lesional) underwent synchronized HDEEG-MEG (72-94 channel EEG, 306-sensor MEG). Source localization (standardized low-resolution tomographic analysis with MRI patient-individualized boundary-element method) was applied to averaged interictal epileptiform discharges (IED) and ictal discharges at three phases: 'earlyphase' (first latency 90% explained variance), 'mid-phase' (first of 50% rising-phase, 50% mean global field power), 'late-phase' (negative peak). 'Earliest-solution' was the first of the three early-phase solutions (ESL, MSL, EMSL). Prospective follow-up was 3-21 (median 12) months before surgery, 14-39 (median 21) months after surgery. IEDs (n = 1474) were recorded, seen in: HDEEG only, 626 (42%); MEG only, 232 (16%); and both 616 (42%). Thirty-three seizures were captured, seen in: HDEEG only, seven (21%); MEG only, one (3%); and both 25 (76%). Intracranial EEG was done in nine patients. Engel scores were I (9/13, 69%), II (2/13,15%), and III (2/13). MEG detected baso-mesial temporal lobe epileptogenic zone sources. Epileptogenic zone OR [odds ratio(s)] were significantly higher for earliest-solution versus early-phase IED-surgical resection and earliest-solution versus all midphase and late-phase solutions. ESL outperformed EMSL for ictal-surgical resection [OR 3.54, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.09-11.55, P = 0.036]. MSL outperformed EMSL for IED-intracranial EEG (OR 4.67, 95% CI 1.19-18.34, P = 0.027). ESL outperformed MSL for ictal-surgical resection (OR 3.73, 95% CI 1.16-12.03, P = 0.028) but was outperformed by MSL for IEDintracranial EEG (OR 0.18, 95% CI 0.05-0.73, P = 0.017). Thus, (i) HDEEG and MEG source solutions more accurately localize the epileptogenic zone at the earliest resolvable phase of interictal and ictal discharges, not mid-phase (as is common practice) or late peak-phase (when signal-to-noise ratios are maximal); (ii) from empirical observation of the differential timing of HDEEG and MEG discharges and based on the superiority of ESL plus MSL over either modality alone and over EMSL, concurrent HDEEG-MEG signals should be assessed independently, not combined; (iii) baso-mesial temporal lobe sources are detectable by MEG; and (iv) MEG is not 'more accurate' than HDEEG-emphasis is best placed on the earliest signal (whether HDEEG or MEG) amenable to source localization. Our findings challenge current practice and our reliance on invasive monitoring in these patients.

A framework to integrate EEG-correlated fMRI and intracerebral recordings

NeuroImage, 2012

EEG-correlated functional MRI (EEG-fMRI) has been used to indicate brain regions associated with interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs). This technique enables the delineation of the complete epileptiform network, including multifocal and deeply situated cortical areas. Before EEG-fMRI can be used as an additional diagnostic tool in the preoperative work-up, its added value should be assessed in relation to intracranial EEG recorded from depth electrodes (SEEG) or from the cortex (ECoG), currently the clinical standard. In this study, we propose a framework for the analysis of the SEEG data to investigate in a quantitative way whether EEG-fMRI reflects the same cortical areas as identified by the IEDs present in SEEG recordings. For that purpose, the data of both modalities were analyzed with a general linear model at the same time scale and within the same spatial domain. The IEDs were used as predictors in the model, yielding for EEG-fMRI the brain voxels that were related to the IEDs and, similarly for SEEG, the electrodes that were involved. Finally, the results of the regression analysis were projected on the anatomical MRI of the patients. To explore the usefulness of this quantitative approach, a sample of five patients was studied who both underwent EEG-fMRI and SEEG recordings. For clinical validation, the results of the SEEG analysis were compared to the standard visual review of IEDs in SEEG and to the identified seizure onset zone, the resected area, and outcome of surgery. SEEG analysis revealed a spatial pattern for the most frequent and dominant IEDs present in the data of all patients. The electrodes with the highest correlation values were in good concordance with the electrodes that showed maximal amplitude during those events in the SEEG recordings. These results indicate that the analysis of SEEG data at the time scale of EEG-fMRI, using the same type of regression model, is a promising way to validate EEG-fMRI data. In fact, the BOLD areas with a positive hemodynamic response function were closely related to the spatial pattern of IEDs in the SEEG recordings in four of the five patients. The areas of significant BOLD that were not located in the vicinity of depth electrodes, were mainly characterized by negative hemodynamic responses. Furthermore, the area with a positive hemodynamic response function overlapped with the resected area in three patients, while it was located at the edge of the resection area for one. To conclude, the results of this study encourage the application of EEG-fMRI to guide the implantation of depth electrodes as prerequisite for successful epilepsy surgery.

EEG-fMRI study of the interictal epileptic activity in patients with partial epilepsy

Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 2008

Purpose: To investigate Blood Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD) responses to interictal epileptic discharges (IEDs) during EEG-correlated functional MRI (EEG-fMRI) in patients with partial epilepsy. Methods: We studied eight patients who had a diagnosis of partial epilepsy and active spiking on routine scalp EEG recording. Sessions of continuous EEG-fMRI were recorded, and spikes (identified after online artifact removal) were used as events in the fMRI analysis. Regions of BOLD signal change in response to interictal epileptic discharge were assessed and epileptogenic zone localization was electroclinically identified. Results: Eight patients with partial epilepsy were recruited (6 males, 2 females, mean age 18.5, mean onset age range 0.5-29). Two who underwent EEG-fMRI were excluded from further analysis: one due to absence of epileptic discharges, the other due to excessive head motion. Eight sessions of EEG-fMRI scanning in 6 patients were obtained: 6 with activation and deactivation, one with activation only, and one with deactivation only. Focal activations corresponding to electroclinical localization occurred in 7 sessions, 5 of which were maximal. Conclusions: Maximally activated areas detected by EEG-fMRI in patients with partial epilepsy appear to be concordant with epileptogenic areas as defined by electroclinical localization data. In most patients with focal epilepsy, positive BOLD responses seem to be mainly in epileptogenic zones and the corresponding contralateral areas. Responses to deactivation seem less associated with IEDs. So EEG-fMRI is a useful tool to study the pathophysiological mechanisms of epilepsy and may assist in presurgical evaluation of epilepsy.

Usefulness of intracranial EEG in the decision process for epilepsy surgery

Epilepsy Research, 2007

Background and purpose: In patients with discordant results, non-localizing EEG, or bitemporal seizure onset, intracranial monitoring is done to confirm the seizure onset. Our aim was to assess the yield of intracranial recordings in patients with different clinical scenarios. Methods: The records of all patients who underwent prolonged intracranial EEG monitoring (IEM) at the London Health Sciences Centre, University of Western Ontario, Canada, between 1993 and 1999, identified using our EEG patient database in continuous use since December 1972, were reviewed. Patients were analyzed in the following groups according to perceived increasing degrees of uncertainty of epileptic zone localization--group 1: lesion on MRI congruent with focal ictal and interictal scalp EEG, but findings are subtle and of low level of certainty (n = 13), group 2: focal MRI, focal ictal and multifocal interictal scalp EEG (n = 11), group 3: focal MRI, non-localizing or incongruent scalp EEG (n = 73), group 4: normal of multifocal MRI, focal ictal scalp EEG (n = 11), group 5: multifocal MRI, non-localizing scalp EEG (n = 18), and group 6: normal MRI, multifocal scalp EEG (n = 36). Results: One hundred and seventy one patients underwent IEM at the London Health Sciences Centre between 1993 and 1999. All patients had localization-related epilepsy, plus or minus secondary generalization. IEM was helpful overall in 86% of patients, in 69% of group 1, 36% of group 2, 90% of group 3, 81% of group 4, 100 of group 5 and 92% of group 6. Conclusions: Our study shows that the yield of the IEM was higher in the groups of patients with lack of congruence between the MRI and the scalp EEG. The yield was lower in patients with congruent but subtle or uncertain scalp EEG and MRI findings.

Interictal MEG abnormalities to guide intracranial electrode implantation and predict surgical outcome

arXiv (Cornell University), 2023

Intracranial EEG (iEEG) is the gold standard technique for epileptogenic zone (EZ) localisation, but requires a preconceived hypothesis of the location of the epileptogenic tissue. This placement is guided by qualitative interpretations of seizure semiology, MRI, EEG and other imaging modalities, such as magnetoencephalography (MEG). Quantitative abnormality mapping using MEG has recently been shown to have potential clinical value. We hypothesised that if quantifiable MEG abnormalities were sampled by iEEG, then patients' post-resection seizure outcome may be better. Thirty-two individuals with refractory neocortical epilepsy underwent MEG and subsequent iEEG recordings as part of pre-surgical evaluation. Eyes-closed resting-state interictal MEG band power abnormality maps were derived from 70 healthy controls as a normative baseline. MEG abnormality maps were compared to iEEG electrode implantation, with the spatial overlap of iEEG electrode placement and cerebral MEG abnormalities recorded. Finally, we assessed if the implantation of electrodes in abnormal tissue, and subsequent resection of the strongest abnormalities determined by MEG and iEEG corresponded to surgical success. Intracranial electrodes were implanted in brain tissue with the most abnormal MEG findings-in individuals that were seizure-free post-operatively (T=3.9, p=0.003), but not in those who did not become seizure free. The overlap between MEG abnormalities and electrode placement distinguished surgical outcome groups moderately well (AUC=0.68). In isolation, the resection of the strongest abnormalities as defined by MEG and iEEG separated surgical outcome groups well, AUC=0.71, AUC=0.74 respectively. A model incorporating all three features separated surgical outcome groups best (AUC=0.80). Intracranial EEG is a key tool to delineate the EZ and help render individuals seizure-free post-operatively. We showed that data-driven abnormality maps derived from resting-state MEG recordings demonstrate clinical value and may help guide electrode placement in individuals with neocortical epilepsy. Additionally, our predictive model of post-operative seizure-freedom, which leverages both MEG and iEEG recordings, could aid patient counselling of expected outcome.