Magnetic resonance imaging findings in newly diagnosed epileptic children

Abstract

Objectives:Epilepsy is one of the most common chronic neurologic disorders in childhood and it affects 0.5-1% of children. The purpose of the study was to determine the prevalence and types of structural abnormalities in the epileptic children.Methods:The study was performed in Near East University and Dr. Suat Gunsel University in North Cyprus. It was conducted at pediatric neurology outpatient clinic of the hospital. The records of 1 to 18 years old epileptic children in whom Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) performed within 6 months after diagnosis were enrolled to the study between the dates of October 2011 and June 2017.Results:Among 220 children; 131 (59.55%) had no abnormality and 89 (45.45%) had at least one abnormality in the MRI. Most commonly documented lesions were generally encephalomalacia, hydrocephaly and brain atrophy with a percent of 5.90 (13 cases), 5.45 (12 cases) and 4.55 (10 cases) respectively. Sixty nine (31.06%) of the patients had one abnormality whereas 20 (9.09%) had two or more lesion.Conclusion:Abnormality in MRI examination in newly diagnosed epileptic children was high. These high rates may be due to enrollment of children with new emerging epilepsy on a chronical neurologic disorder. Additionally 20 (9.09%) of patients had a concomitant lesion. Secondary lesions were detected in cases with corpus callosum abnormality, atrophy, encephalomalacia and hydrocephaly. Primarily formed lesions are unknown; further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

High Mobility Group Protein B1 (HMGB1) and Interleukin-1β as Prognostic Biomarkers of Epilepsy in Children

“…Secondary lesions were detected in cases with corpus callosum abnormality, atrophy, encephalomalacia and hydrocephaly. 23 We have the similar conclusions. However, it remains unknown whether the types of structural abnormalities in MRI findings is directly related to the prevalence and types of seizures in the children who has newly diagnosed as epilepsy, further studies are needed to confirm these findings.…”

A minority of patients with functional seizures have abnormalities on neuroimaging

“…For MRI, definitive EAF included but was not limited to hippocampal sclerosis, tuberosclerosis complex, focal cortical dysplasia, and encephalomalacia [46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56]. Borderline EAF included but was not limited to hippocampal atrophy without T2 hyperintensity, hippocampal T2 hyperintensity without atrophy, subtle or questionable findings for focal cortical dysplasia [57][58][59][60][61][62].…”

Surgical outcomes and prognostic factors of drug‐resistant epilepsy secondary to encephalomalacia

“…Focal encephalomalacia is one of the most common MRI findings in the preoperative evaluation of patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. 6,7 It can be caused by trauma, perinatal stroke, perinatal hypoxia, infection, and surgical procedures. 8 Although encephalomalacia alone may not cause epilepsy, abnormal discharges may arise from the cells around the region of encephalomalacia, resulting in epilepsy.…”

“…Focal encephalomalacia is one of the most common MRI findings in the preoperative evaluation of patients with drug‐resistant epilepsy . It can be caused by trauma, perinatal stroke, perinatal hypoxia, infection, and surgical procedures .…”