MRI essentials in epileptology: a review from the ILAE Imaging Taskforce

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Radiology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is crucial for epilepsy patient management and evaluation.
• Optimal acquisition and expert review of structural MRI scans are vital within clinical contexts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide essential MRI information for epilepsy healthcare providers, aligning with the ILAE curriculum.
• To guide the practical application of MRI in everyday epilepsy care.

Main Methods:

• Review of basic MRI principles, sequences, field strengths, and safety considerations.
• Discussion of epilepsy MRI protocols, including HARNESS-MRI, and basic interpretation guidelines.
• Inclusion of common epileptic pathologies and brief overviews of advanced topics like functional MRI.

Main Results:

• Provides a comprehensive overview of MRI essentials for epilepsy specialists.
• Outlines practical aspects of MRI acquisition, protocol selection, and interpretation.
• Addresses both common and advanced MRI applications in epilepsy.

Conclusions:

• This review offers practical guidance for using MRI in epilepsy patient care.
• It emphasizes the importance of optimized MRI acquisition and expert interpretation.
• The content is designed to support healthcare providers in their daily practice with epilepsy patients.