TY - JOUR
T1 - The practical utility of performing peri-ictal spect in the evaluation of children with partial epilepsy
AU - O'Brien, Terence J.
AU - Zupanc, Mary L.
AU - Mullan, Brian P.
AU - O'Connor, Michael K.
AU - Brinkmann, Benjamin H.
AU - Cicora, Kathleen M.
AU - So, Elson L.
PY - 1998/7
Y1 - 1998/7
N2 - Peri-ictal brain single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is increasingly being established as a useful test in localizing partial epilepsy in adults. However, obtaining an ictal injection and acquiring the SPECT images poses a greater challenge in pediatric patients, and few reports have specifically addressed the practical use of this technique in children. The Mayo Clinic experience of peri-ictal SPECT in the evaluation of children with partial epilepsy is reported here. Peri-ictal SPECT was attempted during 71 admissions involving 59 patients (median age 12 years, range 1 year 6 months-17 years). A peri-ictal SPECT injection was performed on 48 (67.6%) of these admissions in 43 (72.9%) patients, and only two patients could not be scanned. Of the 46 peri-ictal images successfully obtained, 30 (65.2%) were from ictal injection and 16 (34.8%) from post-ictal injections. Forty-two (91.3%) of the successfully obtained SPECT images, in 38 patients (92.3%), were classified as localizing (15 temporal, 24 extratemporal). We conclude that, with the appropriate unit setup and well-trained staff, peri-ictal SPECT scans can be obtained in most pediatric partial epilepsy patients. Moreover, the procedure provides specific localizing information in a high proportion of these patients.
AB - Peri-ictal brain single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is increasingly being established as a useful test in localizing partial epilepsy in adults. However, obtaining an ictal injection and acquiring the SPECT images poses a greater challenge in pediatric patients, and few reports have specifically addressed the practical use of this technique in children. The Mayo Clinic experience of peri-ictal SPECT in the evaluation of children with partial epilepsy is reported here. Peri-ictal SPECT was attempted during 71 admissions involving 59 patients (median age 12 years, range 1 year 6 months-17 years). A peri-ictal SPECT injection was performed on 48 (67.6%) of these admissions in 43 (72.9%) patients, and only two patients could not be scanned. Of the 46 peri-ictal images successfully obtained, 30 (65.2%) were from ictal injection and 16 (34.8%) from post-ictal injections. Forty-two (91.3%) of the successfully obtained SPECT images, in 38 patients (92.3%), were classified as localizing (15 temporal, 24 extratemporal). We conclude that, with the appropriate unit setup and well-trained staff, peri-ictal SPECT scans can be obtained in most pediatric partial epilepsy patients. Moreover, the procedure provides specific localizing information in a high proportion of these patients.
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U2 - 10.1016/S0887-8994(98)00019-8
DO - 10.1016/S0887-8994(98)00019-8
M3 - Article
C2 - 9682879
AN - SCOPUS:0031847197
SN - 0887-8994
VL - 19
SP - 15
EP - 22
JO - Pediatric Neurology
JF - Pediatric Neurology
IS - 1
ER -