Imaging in epilepsy

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Abstract
Epilepsies and epileptic syndromes are classified into focal and generalised. Seizures of focal origin begin in a specific cerebral area or network, most commonly in the temporal lobes. Focal epilepsies comprise 40–60% of all newly diagnosed cases. Up to 30% of these patients develop intractable epilepsy despite antiepileptic drug treatment. In patients with chronic intractable temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) surgical treatment with removal of the epileptogenic lesion is vastly superior to medical treatment. Results in extratemporal epilepsy have been less favourable, particularly if there is not a discrete underlying structural abnormality. Therefore, visualisation of lesions that give rise to focal epilepsy and identification of patients who are suitable for surgical treatment are important goals in the imaging of epilepsy.