title: 7 tesla T2*-weighted MRI as a tool to improve detection of focal cortical dysplasia.
abstract: Focal cortical dysplasia is one of the most common underlying pathologies in patients who undergo surgery for refractory epilepsy. Absence of a MRI-visible lesion necessitates additional diagnostic tests and is a predictor of poor surgical outcome. We describe a series of six patients with refractory epilepsy due to histopathologically-confirmed focal cortical dysplasia, for whom pre-surgical 7 tesla T2*-weighted MRI was acquired. In four of six patients, T2* sequences showed areas of marked superficial hypointensity, co-localizing with the epileptogenic lesion. 7 tesla T2* hypointensities overlying focal cortical dysplasia may represent leptomeningeal venous vascular abnormalities associated with the underlying dysplastic cortex. Adding T2* sequences to the MRI protocol may aid in the detection of focal cortical dysplasias.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Brain Center Rudolg Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht.
authors.forename: Tim J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Veersema
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Brain Center Rudolg Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht.
authors.forename: Pieter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: van Eijsden
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Brain Center Rudolg Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht.
authors.forename: Peter H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Gosselaar
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht.
authors.forename: Jeroen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hendrikse
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht.
authors.forename: Jaco J M
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Zwanenburg
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht.
authors.forename: Wim G M
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Spliet
authors.affiliation: Academic Medical Center, Department of Pathology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aronica
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Brain Center Rudolg Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht.
authors.forename: Kees P J
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Brain Center Rudolg Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht.
authors.forename: Cyrille H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Ferrier
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D000069279:Drug Resistant Epilepsy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D054220:Malformations of Cortical Development / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: FCD; cortical localization; epilepsy; magnetic resonance imaging; susceptibility weighted; ultra-high field