Neuroimaging for Epilepsy Diagnosis and Management

Abstract

This chapter will cover the neuroimaging techniques and their application to the diagnostic work up and management of adults and children with new onset or chronic epilepsy. We will focus on the specific indications and requirements of different imaging techniques for the diagnosis and pre-surgical work up of pharmacoresistant focal epilepsies. We will discuss the sensitivity, specificity and prognostic value of imaging features, benign variants and artefacts, and the possible diagnostic significance of non-epileptogenic lesions. This chapter is intended to be relevant for day-to-day practice in average clinical circumstances, with emphasis on MRI and most commonly used functional neuroimaging techniques.