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PET and SPECT in epilepsy
1Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland.
European Neurology
|January 1, 1994
Summary
Positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) are functional brain imaging techniques. These methods help identify epilepsy surgery candidates by assessing cerebral blood flow and metabolism.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Medical Imaging
- Neurology
Background:
- Positron emission tomography (PET) measures regional cerebral metabolism and blood flow.
- PET imaging successfully identifies focal epileptogenesis as hypometabolic regions between seizures.
- PET is crucial for selecting patients with partial epilepsy, especially temporal lobe foci, for resective surgery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the utility of functional imaging techniques, PET and SPECT, in the surgical treatment of epilepsy.
- To highlight the UCLA experience with PET in epilepsy surgery patient selection.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing data on PET and SPECT in epilepsy surgery.
- Emphasis on PET's role in identifying hypometabolism and guiding surgical decisions.
Main Results:
- PET is effective in identifying focal epileptogenesis and guiding surgical candidate selection.
- SPECT offers a more accessible alternative for noninvasive functional brain imaging.
Conclusions:
- Functional imaging techniques like PET and SPECT are valuable tools in the surgical management of epilepsy.
- While PET is highly effective, its cost and complexity limit its widespread use, making SPECT a viable alternative.