Focal cortical dysplasia type IIb in the rolandic cortex: functional reorganization after early surgery documented by passive task functional MRI.
Surgery for seizures arising from the rolandic area can be performed effectively, and accurate mapping of eloquent regions may improve seizure and functional outcome. Noninvasive cortical mapping is, however, hardly feasible in young children. We studied two children with epileptogenic focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) type IIb in the rolandic area, in whom preoperative passive task functional MRI (fMRI) during sedation helped planning a tailored surgical approach. In one patient the dysplastic cortex was functionally activated. After complete lesionectomy both children exhibited motor impairment that readily improved. Repeat fMRI, performed after complete (Patient 1) or partial (Patient 2) recovery, demonstrated relocation of motor-related activations posterior to the area of resection. fMRI during sedation can be used to demonstrate postsurgical functional reorganization of the motor cortex in young children. There is interindividual variability in functional activation of FCD type IIb.
Pediatric Neurology Unit, Children's Hospital Meyer, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Carmen
C
Barba
Domenico
D
Montanaro
Francesca
F
Frijia
Flavio
F
Giordano
Ingmar
I
Blümcke
Lorenzo
L
Genitori
Francesco
F
De Masi
Renzo
R
Guerrini
D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004827:Epilepsy; D019305:Epilepsy, Rolandic / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D059907:Functional Neuroimaging / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D054220:Malformations of Cortical Development / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D065703:Malformations of Cortical Development, Group I