Faculty Collaboration Database

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and electroencephalographic (EEG) findings in a cohort of normal children with newly diagnosed seizures. J Child Neurol 2006 Jun;21(6):491-5

Date

09/05/2006

Pubmed ID

16948933

Pubmed Central ID

PMC1560181

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-33746066003 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   29 Citations

Abstract

In the initial assessment of children with new-onset seizures, the suggestion that electroencephalography (EEG) should be standard and that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) should be optional has been questioned. The purposes of this study were to (1) describe the frequency of EEG and MRI abnormalities and (2) explore relationships between MRI and EEG findings to determine their relevance in the assessment of children with new-onset seizures who are otherwise developing normally. As part of an ongoing, prospective study of children with new-onset seizures, we studied 181 children (90 girls and 91 boys). Children were entered into the study within 3 months of their first-recognized seizure. The association between EEG and MRI abnormalities was explored using a chi-square test. Abnormal MRI findings were found in 32.6% (n = 59) of the sample. The EEG and MRI results agreed with respect to classification into normal or abnormal in 37% (n = 67). Of the 50 children with a normal EEG, however, 21 (42%) were found to have an abnormal MRI. We found an unexpectedly high frequency of imaging abnormalities in our sample of otherwise normal children, although the significance of these findings is not clear. Follow-up of these patients will help us interpret the importance of the abnormalities. Despite our relatively small sample, however, our findings indicate that a normal EEG does not reliably predict a normal MRI in children with first seizures.

Author List

Doescher JS, deGrauw TJ, Musick BS, Dunn DW, Kalnin AJ, Egelhoff JC, Byars AW, Mathews VP, Austin JK

Author

Vincent Mathews MD Chair, Professor in the Radiology department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Brain
Child
Cohort Studies
Electroencephalography
Epilepsy
Female
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male