The role of hybrid FDG-PET/MRI on decision-making in presurgical evaluation of drug-resistant epilepsy

Abstract

Background When MRI fails to detect a potentially epileptogenic lesion, the chance of a favorable outcome after epilepsy surgery becomes significantly lower (from 60 to 90% to 20–65%). Hybrid FDG-PET/MRI may provide additional information for identifying the epileptogenic zone. We aimed to investigate the possible effect of the introduction of hybrid FDG-PET/MRI into the algorithm of the decision-making in both lesional and non-lesional drug-resistant epileptic patients. Methods In a prospective study of patients suffering from drug-resistant focal epilepsy, 30 nonlesional and 30 lesional cases with discordant presurgical results were evaluated using hybrid FDG-PET/MRI. Results The hybrid imaging revealed morphological lesion in 18 patients and glucose hypometabolism in 29 patients within the nonlesional group. In the MRI positive group, 4 patients were found to be nonlesional, and in 9 patients at least one more epileptogenic lesion was discovered, while in another 17 cases the original lesion was confirmed by means of hybrid FDG-PET/MRI. As to the therapeutic decision-making, these results helped to indicate resective surgery instead of intracranial EEG (iEEG) monitoring in 2 cases, to avoid any further invasive diagnostic procedures in 7 patients, and to refer 21 patients for iEEG in the nonlesional group. Hybrid FDG-PET/MRI has also significantly changed the original therapeutic plans in the lesional group. Prior to the hybrid imaging, a resective surgery was considered in 3 patients, and iEEG was planned in 27 patients. However, 3 patients became eligible for resective surgery, 6 patients proved to be inoperable instead of iEEG, and 18 cases remained candidates for iEEG due to the hybrid FDG-PET/MRI. Two patients remained candidates for resective surgery and one patient became not eligible for any further invasive intervention. Conclusions The results of hybrid FDG-PET/MRI significantly altered the original plans in 19 of 60 cases. The introduction of hybrid FDG-PET/MRI into the presurgical evaluation process had a potential modifying effect on clinical decision-making. Trial registration Trial registry: Scientific Research Ethics Committee of the Medical Research Council of Hungary. Trial registration number: 008899/2016/OTIG. Date of registration: 08 February 2016.

An Assessment of the Pathological Classification and Postoperative Outcome of Focal Cortical Dysplasia by Simultaneous Hybrid PET/MRI

“…Several studies have shown relationships between pathologic classification and operative results undergoing MRI or PET examination with FCD [ 7 , 15 , 16 ]. However, the relationship between operative results in FCD undergoing MRI and Simultaneous Hybrid PET/MRI examination has not been evaluated.…”

Emerging Trends in the Management of Cryptogenic Epilepsy

“…Toth et al in Hungry had a prospective study of MRI/PET scan on 30 nonlesional and 30 lesional cases with discordant pre-surgical results. They concluded that the results of MRI/PET scan significantly altered the original plans in 19 of 60 cases [26]. In Hong Kong, this technology has been introduced since 2017 and we have more epilepsy patients that showed promising results in pre-surgical workup (Figure 3).…”

Epilepszia • Epilepsy

“…FDG-PET (fluor-dezoxiglükóz pozitronemissziós tomográfia) segítségével kimutatott hipometabolikus area igen érzékenyen jelzi az epilepsziás fókuszt, ez a hipometabolizmus azonban jóval kiterjedtebb, mint az epilepsziáért ténylegesen felelős agyi terület, és csak a többi vizsgálóeljárással együtt értékelhető. Újabb vizsgálóeljárás a PET/ MRI, mely egyszerre tudja vizualizálni a morfológiai és a funkcionális eltéréseket (Tóth et al, 2021).…”