P 22 Defining the role of imaging methods in diagnostics symptomatic epilepsy in children

Abstract

Introduction Defining the role of MRI and CT in the comprehensive assessment of the state of the central nervous system in children with symptomatic epilepsy. Subjects and Methods The object of the study were 28 patients with symptomatic epilepsy aged from 1 to 14 years. Debut of seizures observed in a wide range of ages from 1 month to 10 years (mean 6.3 ± 4.9). All patients underwent EEG (electroencephalography) studies, magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography. Results Structural changes of brain were found in 45.6% of all examined patients in MRI and CT. Pathological changes in the EEG were found in 77.2% of patients. Regional epileptiform activity, represented by a complex-acute or slow waves recorded in 51.9% of cases. Changes on MRI were detected in 44.6% of patients. CT allowed us to determine the state of the ventricular system and subarachnoid spaces. The following MRI signs were found, in 5 (14.3%) cases it was midline shift of the brain, in 12 (34.3%) cases it was asymmetry of the lateral ventricles. Subarachnoid perivascular space expansion was found in 22 (62.9%) cases, which often revealed in the fronto-temporal region of the brain. Conclusion Thus, at present, CT and MRI are the main methods of neuroimaging in the diagnostics of symptomatic epilepsy in children. However, it should be noted that only the focused research, knowledge-based clinics, medical history, EEG findings, MRI and CT scans in total identifies epileptogenic focus.