Multimodal neuroimaging: potential biomarkers for response to antiepileptic drugs?

Neuroimaging techniques in epilepsy are used widely for definition of the epileptogenic lesion and surgical decision. However, its applications extend to the knowledge of epileptic mechanisms and include the identification of prognostic features that can help our decisions on the appropriate type of treatment on an individual basis. Structural neuroimaging may be able to identify patients more likely to respond to antiepileptic drug (AED) treatment and also patients who are better candidates for earlier surgical treatment. In the past decades, quantitative analyses have also improved our knowledge about epileptogenic lesions and networks as well as the following prognoses: seizure control, cognitive outcome, and comorbidities. New advanced neuroimaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the development biotracers that could be associated with inflammation and specific genetic patterns will add further knowledge to the development of epilepsy treatments.