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Anterior temporal lobe white matter abnormal signal (ATLAS) as an indicator of seizure focus laterality in temporal lobe epilepsy: comparison of double inversion recovery, FLAIR and T2W MR imaging

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Abstract

Objectives

To investigate the diagnostic capability of anterior temporal lobe white matter abnormal signal (ATLAS) for determining seizure focus laterality in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) by comparing different MR sequences.

Methods

This prospective study was approved by the institutional review board and written informed consent was obtained. Three 3D sequences (double inversion recovery (DIR), fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) and T2-weighted imaging (T2WI)) and two 2D sequences (FLAIR and T2WI) were acquired at 3 T. Signal changes in the anterior temporal white matter of 21 normal volunteers were evaluated. ATLAS laterality was evaluated in 21 TLE patients. Agreement of independent evaluations by two neuroradiologists was assessed using κ statistics. Differences in concordance between ATLAS laterality and clinically defined seizure focus laterality were analysed using McNemar’s test with multiple comparisons.

Results

Pre-amygdala high signals (PAHS) were detected in all volunteers only on 3D-DIR. Inter-evaluator agreement was moderate to almost perfect for each sequence. Correct diagnosis of seizure laterality was significantly more frequent on 3D-DIR than on any other sequences (P ≤ 0.031 for each evaluator).

Conclusions

The most sensitive sequence for detecting ATLAS laterality was 3D-DIR. ATLAS laterality on 3D-DIR can be a good indicator for determining seizure focus localization in TLE.

Key Points

• Magnetic resonance imaging is widely used to investigate temporal lobe epilepsy.

• Numerous MR sequences can show anterior temporal lobe white matter abnormal signal.

• ATLAS on 3D-DIR can frequently indicate seizure focus laterality in TLE.

• 3D-DIR is more sensitive about ATLAS laterality than T2WI or FLAIR.

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Abbreviations

ATLAS:

anterior temporal lobe white matter abnormal signal

CSF:

cerebrospinal fluid

DIR:

double inversion recovery

EEG:

electroencephalography

FLAIR:

fluid-attenuated inversion recovery

MR:

magnetic resonance

PAHS:

pre-amygdala high signals

TLE:

temporal lobe epilepsy

T2WI:

T2-weighted imaging

2D:

two-dimensional

3D:

three-dimensional

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Acknowledgements

We wish to thank Mr. Katsutoshi Murata and Mr. Masato Uchikoshi, of Siemens Japan K.K., for their contributions to the optimization of scan parameters.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Kawaharacho, Shogoin, Sakyoku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan

    Emiko Morimoto, Mitsunori Kanagaki, Tomohisa Okada, Akira Yamamoto & Kaori Togashi

  2. Department of Neurology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan

    Riki Matsumoto, Akio Ikeda & Ryosuke Takahashi

  3. Department of Neurosurgery, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan

    Takeharu Kunieda & Susumu Miyamoto

  4. Department of Radiology, Tenri Hospital, Tenri, Nara, Japan

    Nobuyuki Mori

  5. Department of Neurosurgery, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan

    Nobuhiro Mikuni

  6. Siemens AG Healthcare Sector, Erlangen, Germany

    Dominik Paul

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  1. Emiko Morimoto
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  2. Mitsunori Kanagaki
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  3. Tomohisa Okada
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Correspondence to Mitsunori Kanagaki.

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Morimoto, E., Kanagaki, M., Okada, T. et al. Anterior temporal lobe white matter abnormal signal (ATLAS) as an indicator of seizure focus laterality in temporal lobe epilepsy: comparison of double inversion recovery, FLAIR and T2W MR imaging. Eur Radiol 23, 3–11 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-012-2565-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-012-2565-4

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