Proton MR spectroscopy in patients with seizure disorders. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 1994 Feb;15(2):373-84
Date
02/01/1994Pubmed ID
8192088Pubmed Central ID
PMC8334603Scopus ID
2-s2.0-0028214416 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 96 CitationsAbstract
PURPOSE: To evaluate the ability of proton MR spectroscopy to detect metabolic abnormalities in the seizure focus of humans with epilepsy.
METHODS: Single-voxel MR spectroscopy and MR imaging was performed in a group of 13 patients with a variety of seizure disorders and in the temporal lobes of 14 healthy volunteers. Signals from choline, creatine, N-acetyl-L-aspartate, and lactate were quantitated in both the epileptogenic focus and the contralateral brain region.
RESULTS: In normal temporal lobe, concentrations of choline, creatine, and N-acetyl-L-aspartate were 2.0 +/- 0.7, 7.8 +/- 1.9, and 11.0 +/- 2.1 mumol/g wet weight, respectively, with no detectable lactate. In all patients, a reduction in the N-acetyl-L-aspartate signal was observed in the electrically defined (scalp electroencephalogram) seizure focus compared with the mirror-image contralateral side. Lactate was elevated only in patients who had seizures during or immediately before the MR examination. Seven of 13 patients studied had normal MR examinations.
CONCLUSIONS: Proton spectroscopy demonstrates alterations in N-acetyl-L-aspartate and lactate levels that can be used to locate the epileptogenic focus and may be a useful adjunctive diagnostic technique for the evaluation of patients with seizures who are eligible for resective surgery.
Author List
Breiter SN, Arroyo S, Mathews VP, Lesser RP, Bryan RN, Barker PBAuthor
Vincent Mathews MD Chair, Professor in the Radiology department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdolescentAdult
Aspartic Acid
Brain
Cerebral Cortex
Child
Child, Preschool
Choline
Creatine
Dominance, Cerebral
Energy Metabolism
Epilepsy
Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe
Female
Humans
Infant
Lactates
Lactic Acid
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Male
Reference Values
Temporal Lobe
