Author(s)

Byron Bernal^1,2,3*, Magno R. Guillen^1,2, Pedro Valdes³, Prasanna Jayakar¹, Nolan Altman², Michael Duchowny¹, Jorge Riera⁴

¹Brain Institute, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Miami, FL, USA.
²Radiology Department, Miami, FL, USA.
³Department of Pediatric, School of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA.
⁴Department of Biomedical, School of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA.

This paper presents a theoretical elaboration aimed to explain the correlation found between a new rs-fMRI modality and electrophysiology and nuclear medicine neuroimaging, performed to localize epileptogenic brain areas. We present in detail the clinical history, and electrophysiological and neuroimaging results of one child with intractable epilepsy, who was submitted for Phase-1 work-up as candidate for epilepsy surgery. The patient underwent a thorough workup including video-telemetry, ictal and interictal nuclear medicine imaging, resting-state fMRI, EEG-fMRI, intracranial electroencephalography (ECoG), deep electrode implantation, and resective surgery. Electrophysiology and neuroimaging findings were concordant with findings provided by the resting-state mean signal. The patient became seizure-free after the resection of the target area. A theoretical discussion is provided that considers the presence of a stable BOLD effect explaining the findings of the observed resting-state mean signal. This stable BOLD is linked to low regional metabolism usually present in the epileptogenic area during interictal periods, coupled with low oxygen extraction. Low oxygen extraction leaves more oxygen for the draining venule and consequently increases the BOLD signal.

BOLD, fMRI, rs-fMRI, Brain, MRI, Epilepsy, PET

Bernal, B. , Guillen, M. , Valdes, P. , Jayakar, P. , Altman, N. , Duchowny, M. and Riera, J. (2019) Epilepsy Focus Localization in Patients Utilizing BOLD Differences Related to Regional Metabolic Dynamics. Open Journal of Radiology, 9, 163-175. doi: 10.4236/ojrad.2019.93015.