MRI-negative refractory partial epilepsy: role for diffusion tensor imaging in high field MRI.
OBJECTIVE
Our aim is to use the high field MR scanner (3T) to verify whether diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) could help in locating the epileptogenic zone in patients with MRI-negative refractory partial epilepsy.


METHODS
Fifteen patients with refractory partial epilepsy who had normal conventional MRI, and 40 healthy volunteers were recruited for the study. DTI was performed on a 3T MR scanner, individual maps of mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) were calculated, and Voxel-Based Analysis (VBA) was performed for individual comparison between patients and controls.


RESULTS
Voxel-based analysis revealed significant MD increase in variant regions in 13 patients. The electroclinical seizure localization was concurred to seven patients. No patient exhibited regions of significant decreased MD. Regions of significant reduced FA were observed in five patients, with two of these concurring with electroclinical seizure localization. Two patients had regions of significant increase in FA, which were distinct from electroclinical seizure localization.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study's results revealed that DTI is a responsive neuroradiologic technique that provides information about the epileptogenic areas in patients with MRI-negative refractory partial epilepsy. This technique may also helpful in pre-surgical evaluation.
Chen
Qin
Q
Department of Neurology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Lui
Su
S
Li
Chun-Xiao
CX
Jiang
Li-Jun
LJ
Ou-Yang
Luo
L
Tang
He-Han
HH
Shang
Hui-Fang
HF
Huang
Xiao-Qi
XQ
Gong
Qi-Yong
QY
Zhou
Dong
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged