MRI postprocessing in presurgical evaluation

Irene Wang, Andreas Alexopoulos
2016 Current Opinion in Neurology  
Purpose of Review-Advanced MRI post-processing techniques are increasingly used to complement visual analysis and elucidate structural epileptogenic lesions. This review summarizes recent developments in MRI post-processing in the context of epilepsy pre-surgical evaluation, with the focus on patients with unremarkable MRI by visual analysis (i.e., "nonlesional" MRI). Recent Findings-Various methods of MRI post-processing have been reported to show additional clinical values in the following
more » ... as: (1) lesion detection on an individual level; (2) lesion confirmation for reducing the risk of over reading the MRI; (3) detection of sulcal/gyral morphologic changes that are particularly difficult for visual analysis; and (4) delineation of cortical abnormalities extending beyond the visible lesion. Future directions to improve performance of MRI post-processing include using higher magnetic field strength for better signal and contrast to noise ratio, adopting a multi-contrast frame work, and integration with other noninvasive modalities. Summary-MRI post-processing can provide essential value to increase the yield of structural MRI and should be included as part of the presurgical evaluation of nonlesional epilepsies. MRI post-processing allows for more accurate identification/delineation of cortical abnormalities, which should then be more confidently targeted and mapped.
doi:10.1097/wco.0000000000000305 pmid:26900745 pmcid:PMC4932912 fatcat:wtuowhnkdrgv3bm6acdtdcwvwq