Brain Activity During Epileptic Seizures Recorded

A new procedure performed by the Loyola University Medical Center allows real-time imaging of the brain during epileptic seizures, allowing physicians to target the exact brain mechanisms affected and enhancing diagnosis and treatment options. Patients are connected with a continuous EEG until a seizure develops, at which point a technician quickly infuses a radiopharmaceutical to reveal blood flow activity within the brain. The brain is then scanned to determine the highest areas of blood flow during the seizure. This scan, known as an ictal single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), is then compared to a pre-seizure scan to triangulate the pressure points. “This is a very useful technique in cases in which seizures are difficult to localize with an electroencephalogram or in which a patient’s MRI is normal,” explained an epilepsy specialist. Three-dimensional scans are consulted to determine if surgery is an option for those not being relieved by medications or other treatments. To learn more about this study, click here.