Identification of the Side of the Epileptic Focus with 123I-Iomazenil SPECT

A Comparison with 18FDG-PET and Ictal EEG Findings in Patients with Medically Intractable Complex Partial Seizures
  • A. C. van Huffelen
  • J. W. van Isselt
  • C. W. M. van Veelen
  • P. P. van Rijk
  • A. M. E. van Bentum
  • D. Dive
  • P. Maquet
  • G. Franck
  • D. N. Velis
  • W. van Emde Boas
  • R. M. Chr. Debets
Conference paper
Part of the Acta Neurochirurgica book series (NEUROCHIRURGICA, volume 50)

Summary

123 I-Iomazenil SPECT was performed in 17 patients who were considered candidates for surgery of epilepsy because of medically intractable complex partial seizures. In addition to this examination their presurgical evaluation consisted of long term ictal EEG-CCTV monitoring, CT, MRI and 18FDG PET. In eight patients intracranial ictal EEG recordings were performed.

SPECT was assessed visually while PET data were analyzed quantitatively. Both SPECT and PET were compared to ictal EEG data and showed asymmetries in over 80% of patients in agreement with EEG findings. These three methods were in agreement in 65% of patients. SPECT showed abnormality contralateral to the EEG focus in one patient (6%) while PET always demonstrated ipsilateral dysfunction.

It is concluded that 1231-Iomazenil SPECT may be considered a more economical and more widely available alternative to 18FDG PET in the presurgical evaluation of patients with medically intractable complex partial seizures. In this respect 123I-Iomazenil specifically reflects functional changes in the membranes of neurons while 18FDG is related to glucose metabolism not only of neurons but also of glial cells.

Keywords

Epilepsy epileptic focus identification SPECT 123I-Iomazenil 18FDG-PET ictal EEG 

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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 1990

Authors and Affiliations

  • A. C. van Huffelen
    • 1
  • J. W. van Isselt
    • 2
  • C. W. M. van Veelen
    • 3
  • P. P. van Rijk
    • 2
  • A. M. E. van Bentum
    • 2
  • D. Dive
    • 4
  • P. Maquet
    • 4
  • G. Franck
    • 4
  • D. N. Velis
    • 5
  • W. van Emde Boas
    • 5
  • R. M. Chr. Debets
    • 5
  1. 1.Department of Clinical NeurophysiologyUniversity Hospital UtrechtThe Netherlands
  2. 2.Department of Nuclear MedicineUniversity Hospital UtrechtThe Netherlands
  3. 3.Department of NeurosurgeryUniversity Hospital UtrechtThe Netherlands
  4. 4.Department of Neurology and Cyclotron Research CentreUniversity of LiegeBelgium
  5. 5.Instituut voor Epilepsiebestrijding “Meer en Bosch”HeemstedeThe Netherlands

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