Increased volumes of the precuneus and the pallidum in idiopathic generalized epilepsy

Idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) is a complex epilepsy syndrome with various subtypes that appear normal on conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, advanced quantitative MRI techniques have revealed subtle structural abnormalities. This study aims to identify specific cerebral regions with structural and volumetric alterations in IGE patients. A retrospective study was conducted on 38 IGE patients and 38 age and sex-matched healthy control subjects. MRI images were processed and segmented semi-automatically to extract volumes of cortical and subcortical brain regions. Statistical analysis was performed to compare volumes between IGE patients and controls. IGE patients exhibited significantly increased volumes in the precuneus (p = 0.002), and the pallidum (p < 0.001) compared to control subjects. No significant differences were observed in other regions, such as the precentral gyrus and frontal gyri. This study highlights conflicting results in the literature regarding radiologic volumetric data in IGE. While our findings imply the potential utility of incorporating volumetric analysis in the radiologic diagnosis of IGE patients to enhance targeted treatment approaches, it is important to exercise caution in interpreting these results, especially since these are primarily based on group-wise comparison. The increased volumes of the precuneus and pallidum in IGE patients suggest possible diagnostic implications. However, the extent of their clinical significance necessitates further investigation. Further research should investigate the clinical significance of these volumetric alterations and their potential role in guiding personalized treatment strategies for IGE patients.