Neuroimaging in Patients with Seizures of Probable Frontal Lobe Origin

Twenty‐two patients whose electroclinical ictal characeristics suggested frontal lobe seizure foci were studied. Computed tomography (CT) scans showed abnormalities in only 32% of patients whereas magnetic resonance imaging was informative in 45%. 18FDG‐Positron emission tomography (PET) scanning revealed decreased metabolism in 64% of the group. The areas of hypometabolism were focal, regional, or hemispheric. Focal frontal hypometabolism was significantly correlated with the electroclinical (semiologic) ictal localization. Therefore, FDG‐PET scanning is a sensitive and specific technique for investigating patients with seizures of probable frontal lobe origins.

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