Clinical study of temporal lobe epilepsy with quantitative MRI

Objective To investigate the value of quantitative MRI indiagnosing patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. Methods 40 normal subjects(the control group),20 cases of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE group)and 21cases of extratemporal lobe epilepsy (ELE group) were examined withquantitative MRI.The volume of the hippocampus formation(HF) of 2 sideswas measured and compared among the 3 groups. Results The volume ofthe right HF was 2.99±0.23cm3 and that of the left HF 2.86±0.21cm3in the controls and they were 2.43±0.33cm3 and 2.25±0.34cm3 respectivelyin the TLE cases.There was a significant difference of the HF volumebetween the control and TLE groups(P0.05).The sensitivity and specificityof quantitive MRI in epilepsy lateralization were 70% and 87.5% respectively.If ELE cases were included into the negatve group,its specificity wasdecreased to 80%. Conclusion Quantitative MRI can help lateralization ofthe seizure in epilepsy. The volume of hippocampus also tended to changein ELE.