Utilizing rs-fMRI’s Mean to Localize Seizure Focus ()
ABSTRACT
Purpose:
We present for the first time the utilization of an average of the
resting-state time points (rs-Mean) to localize epilepsy focus in a group of
pediatric patients with medical refractory epilepsy. Materials and Methods: Twenty
nine pediatric patients had drug-resistant epilepsy, and 22 subject controls
underwent rs-fMRI. Comparison among group means was performed. Regions of Interest
(ROI) derived from the nuclear medicine studies (GS) and the focal
hyperintensities yielded by the rs-Mean were converted into ellipsoids.
Euclidian Distance (ED) among the isocenters of each ROI pair per patient was
found. Matching of ROIs was accepted if the ED was equal or less than 50 mm.
Group comparison was performed utilizing two-tail T-test. Statistical
significance was accepted with p values < 0.01. Results: Statistically
significant differences were found between the patient and normal control’s
rs-Mean (p < 0.001, t (49) = 5.186; CI (95%) = [512.73, 1161.46]). The
rs-Mean findings matched the GS findings in epilepsy patients in 72.4% of
cases. The rs-Mean was positive matching GS in 6 of 9 (66.6%) MR-non-lesional
cases. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that rs-Mean in intractable epilepsy
patients differs from normal subjects, and that it may demonstrate the
epileptogenic focus in a significant number of patients.
Share and Cite:
Bernal, B. , Guillen, M. , Zamora, K. and Altman, N. (2015) Utilizing rs-fMRI’s Mean to Localize Seizure Focus.
Open Journal of Radiology,
5, 92-103. doi:
10.4236/ojrad.2015.52015.