Seizure-associated Abnormalities in Epilepsy : Evidence from MR Imaging

• Published in: Epilepsia (Copenhagen) Vol. 46; no. 5; pp. 760 - 766
• Main Authors: Briellmann, Regula S., Wellard, R. Mark, Jackson, Graeme D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 350 Main Street , Malden , MA 02148 , USA and 9600 Garsington Road , Oxford , OX4 2XG , England Blackwell Science Inc 01.05.2005; Blackwell
• Subjects: Adult; Anticonvulsants. Antiepileptics. Antiparkinson agents; Aspartic Acid - analogs & derivatives; Aspartic Acid - metabolism; Atrophy - pathology; Biological and medical sciences; Brain - pathology; Brain Diseases - diagnosis; Brain Diseases - metabolism; Brain Diseases - pathology; Brain Edema - diagnosis; Brain Edema - metabolism; Brain Edema - pathology; Choline - metabolism; Creatine - metabolism; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging - statistics & numerical data; Epilepsy; Epilepsy - diagnosis; Epilepsy - metabolism; Epilepsy - pathology; Female; Headache. Facial pains. Syncopes. Epilepsia. Intracranial hypertension. Brain oedema. Cerebral palsy; Hippocampus; Hippocampus - pathology; Humans; Inositol - metabolism; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Magnetic resonance imaging; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - statistics & numerical data; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy - statistics & numerical data; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Nervous system; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Neurology; Neuropharmacology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry; Seizures; Nervous system diseases; Magnetic resonance imaging-Epilepsy- Hippocampus-Seizures; Epilepsy; Central nervous system disease; Central nervous system; Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; Hippocampus; Cerebral disorder
• ISSN: 0013-9580; 1528-1167
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2005.47604.x

Acute seizure‐associated changes have been described in the animal and human literature. Controversy exists over whether seizures cause permanent damage to the brain, and whether a (prolonged) seizure can induce changes that lead to an epileptic lesion, resulting in habitual seizures and epilepsy. Current magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers a variety of imaging tools and is capable of detecting acute seizure‐associated changes. In contrast to the histologic examination, serial MRI studies are possible and allow longitudinal observation of the fate of these changes. This report reviews the literature on acute seizure‐associated effects emphasizing the MRI evidence.