Morphological characteristics of brain tumors causing seizures.
OBJECTIVE
To quantify size and localization differences between tumors presenting with seizures vs nonseizure neurological symptoms.


METHODS
Retrospective imaging survey. We performed magnetic resonance imaging-based morphometric analysis and nonparametric mapping in patients with brain tumors.


METHODS
University-affiliated teaching hospital.


METHODS
One hundred twenty-four patients with newly diagnosed supratentorial glial tumors.


METHODS
Volumetric and mapping methods were used to evaluate differences in size and location of the tumors in patients who presented with seizures as compared with patients who presented with other symptoms.


RESULTS
In high-grade gliomas, tumors presenting with seizures were smaller than tumors presenting with other neurological symptoms, whereas in low-grade gliomas, tumors presenting with seizures were larger. Tumor location maps revealed that in high-grade gliomas, deep-seated tumors in the pericallosal regions were more likely to present with nonseizure neurological symptoms. In low-grade gliomas, tumors of the temporal lobe as well as the insular region were more likely to present with seizures.


CONCLUSIONS
The influence of size and location of the tumors on their propensity to cause seizures varies with the grade of the tumor. In high-grade gliomas, rapidly growing tumors, particularly those situated in deeper structures, present with non-seizure-related symptoms. In low-grade gliomas, lesions in the temporal lobe or the insula grow large without other symptoms and eventually cause seizures. Quantitative image analysis allows for the mapping of regions in each group that are more or less susceptible to seizures.
Lee
Jong Woo
JW
Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA. jlee38@partners.org
Wen
Patrick Y
PY
Hurwitz
Shelley
S
Black
Peter
P
Kesari
Santosh
S
Drappatz
Jan
J
Golby
Alexandra J
AJ
Wells
William M
WM
Warfield
Simon K
SK
Kikinis
Ron
R
Bromfield
Edward B
EB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001931:Brain Mapping; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005260:Female; D005910:Glioma / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016017:Odds Ratio; D018579:Patient Selection; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012640:Seizures / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015173:Supratentorial Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000473:pathology*