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Updated: May 30, 2026
A Pipeline for 3D Multimodality Image Integration and Computer-assisted Planning in Epilepsy Surgery
Published on: May 20, 2016
Surgical decision making in temporal lobe epilepsy: a comparison of [(18)F]FDG-PET, MRI, and EEG
Aaron F Struck1, Lance T Hall, John M Floberg
1Nuclear Medicine Section, Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA. astruck@uwhealth.org
Objectives:
The goals of this work were (1) to determine the effect of [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET), MRI, and EEG on the decision to perform temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) surgery, and (2) to determine if FDG-PET, MRI, or EEG predicts surgical outcome.
Methods:
All PET scans ordered (2000-2010) for epilepsy or seizures were tabulated. Medical records were investigated to determine eligibility and collect data. Statistical analysis included odds ratios, κ statistics, univariate analysis, and logistic regression.
Results:
Of the 186 patients who underwent FDG-PET, 124 had TLE, 50 were surgical candidates, and 34 had surgery with post-operative follow-up. Median length of follow-up was 24 months. MRI, FDG-PET, and EEG were significant predictors of surgical candidacy (P<0.001) with odds ratios of 42.8, 20.4, and 6.3, respectively. FDG-PET was the only significant predictor of postoperative outcome (P<0.01).
Conclusion:
MRI showed a trend toward having the most influence on surgical candidacy, but only FDG-PET predicted surgical outcome.
