Nina Ventura MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Emerson L. Gasparetto MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Mariana Leite Pereira MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Paulo Valle Bahia, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Soniza Alvez-Leon, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Juliana Leme, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Isabela Dandrea, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To evaluate the volume of subcortical structures and the cortical thickness in patients with typical childhood absence epilepsy (CAE) through the use of three-dimensional maps based on conventional high-resolution MR imaging.

19 patients with clinical and EEG diagnosis of CAE (11 females and 8 males, mean age 24,6) and 19 healthy subjects matched by gender and age underwent MR imaging at 1.5T scanner. A sagittal T1-MPRAGE sequence with optimized protocol for the study of cortical thickness (voxel size 1.33mm3, flip angle 7°, TR/TE/TI=2, 53s/3.39ms/1.1s) was obtained. Cortical reconstruction and volumetric segmentation were performed with the Freesurfer image analysis suite. For this study we focused on the cortical thickness results and volumes of selected subcortical structures. The results of the automatic segmentations were reviewed and any errors were corrected. To investigate the correlation between the two groups we performed a surface-based group analysis using tools within Freesurfer. RESULTS: Considering the volume of the subcortical structures, the most significant abnormalities were decrease in the thalami and septal nuclei, and increase in the right pallidum (p<0.01). Regarding the cortical thickness, there was a significant decrease in the subcallosal gyri and paraterminal gyrus (p<0.01).  

Considering the volume of the subcortical structures, the most significant abnormalities were decrease in the thalami and septal nuclei, and increase in the right pallidum (p<0.01). Regarding the cortical thickness, there was a significant decrease in the subcallosal gyri and paraterminal gyrus (p<0.01).

These results corroborate the hypotheses that abnormalities can be demonstrated not only in the subcortical regions of patients with CAE, but also in the cortex. Further studies have to be conducted to define if these abnormalities are a consequence of the seizures or if they are related to the primary underlying pathology.  

The better understanding of the imaging abnormalities in patients with absence seizures can provide insights about the physiopathology of the disease and thereby changes in the treatment strategies.

Ventura, N, Gasparetto, E, Pereira, M, Bahia, P, Alvez-Leon, S, Leme, J, Dandrea, I, Evaluation of Cortical Thickness and Volume of Subcortical Structures in Patients with Typical Childhood Absence Epilepsy.  Radiological Society of North America 2010 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2010 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2010/9011027.html