title: EEG is an essential clinical tool: pro and con.
abstract: The authors debate whether routine EEG is an essential clinical tool for evaluation of a first seizure. One author suggests that because of the positive predictive value of interictal spikes for seizure recurrence, the EEG is a useful tool. The other author argues that since many clinicians would not treat after a single seizure, even if the EEG were abnormal, the EEG is not essential. Both authors agree that the EEG should only be ordered with forethought to answer a specific question.
authors.affiliation: Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA. nbf2p@virginia.edu
authors.forename: Nathan B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Fountain
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Freeman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012008:Recurrence; D012640:Seizures / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity