ILAE neuroimaging task force highlight: The utility of multimodal neuroimaging in diagnostic and presurgical workup of drug-resistant focal epilepsy.

Abstract

The ILAE Neuroimaging Task Force publishes educational case reports that highlight basic aspects of neuroimaging in epilepsy, consistent with ILAE's educational mission. In patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy who are candidates for surgical intervention, the identification of structural abnormalities is a strong predictor of favorable postoperative seizure outcomes. When conventional imaging is insufficient, the integration of multimodal neuroimaging data with structural, metabolic, and functional imaging modalities is often helpful. The following two illustrative cases from two different centers highlight the challenges and needs to integrate the information from multiple imaging modalities for a more accurate diagnosis and resection planning of drug-resistant focal epilepsies. This approach can increase the number of patients eligible for surgery while minimizing the risk of postoperative deficits.