Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) may prove a valuable tool in evaluating patients with epilepsy postoperatively suggests this report from Epilepsy Research.
- Although task-based fMRI is often used to assess patients after surgery, Boerwinkle et al suggest resting state fMRI may be a useful adjunct and alternative after laser ablation of seizure foci, especially in pediatric patients.
- The researchers have developed software that can merge rsfMRI images with surgical navigation systems so that the technology can be more useful in a clinical setting.
- Boerwinkle et al postulate that performing rsfMRI after laser surgery may help clinicians detect changes in connectivity, determine the location of new seizure foci, and serve as a guide to determine the best course of antiepileptic therapy.
Boerwinkle VL, Vedantam A, Lam S et al. Connectivity changes after laser ablation: Resting-state fMRI. [Published online ahead of print Sept 28, 2017] Epilepsy Res. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2017.09.015
