{"title":"Refining seizure foci localization: the potential of TSPO-PET.","authors":"Yiqiao Wang, Yuncan Chen, Shimin Xu, Xunyi Wu","doi":"10.1186/s42494-025-00234-2","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Translocator protein positron emission tomography (TSPO-PET) is a novel imaging modality that leverages the high expression of TSPO in activated microglia and other cells within seizure foci. It has been increasingly applied in the preoperative evaluation of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) to aid in the localization of these foci. With advances in tracer development, TSPO-PET has achieved higher signal-to-noise ratios and broader clinical utility. Clinical studies indicate that TSPO-PET yields significantly higher positive detection rates for seizure foci compared to magnetic resonance imaging and fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography. This review summarizes recent progress in TSPO-PET radiotracer technology, its mechanism of action, and its clinical applications for managing DRE.</p>","PeriodicalId":33628,"journal":{"name":"Acta Epileptologica","volume":"7 1","pages":"41"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2000,"publicationDate":"2025-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12369204/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Acta Epileptologica","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s42494-025-00234-2","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"CLINICAL NEUROLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Translocator protein positron emission tomography (TSPO-PET) is a novel imaging modality that leverages the high expression of TSPO in activated microglia and other cells within seizure foci. It has been increasingly applied in the preoperative evaluation of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) to aid in the localization of these foci. With advances in tracer development, TSPO-PET has achieved higher signal-to-noise ratios and broader clinical utility. Clinical studies indicate that TSPO-PET yields significantly higher positive detection rates for seizure foci compared to magnetic resonance imaging and fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography. This review summarizes recent progress in TSPO-PET radiotracer technology, its mechanism of action, and its clinical applications for managing DRE.