Status epilepticus (SE) is a seizure that persists for a sufficient length of time or is repeated frequently enough that recovery between attacks does not occur. It represents persistent neuronal firing and the release of excess glutamate, which activates postsynaptic NMDA receptors and triggers receptor-mediated calcium influx and initiates the vicious cycle of self-sustained seizure, which may result in cell death. Mortality of SE is up to 5-10%. SE might occur as a consequence of chronic known epilepsy (1/3); as a new onset of epilepsy (1/3) and as a complication of acute encephalopathy (1/3). MRI provides new opportunities for identifying early seizure neuronal damage (cytotoxic and vasogenic edema) often in typical localization (mesial temporal structures, thalamus and cerebral cortex) and it is a useful imaging technique to find out causes of SE.
1. Etiology and pathophysiology of SE
2. Examples of MRI periictal reversible and irreversible damage in non-lethal and lethal cases
3. Mixed MRI detectable pathology – periictal damages and imaging of causes of SE
4. Irreversible late changes after SE in surviving cases on MRI
5. Conclusion: MRI plays an important role not only in diagnosis of periictal neuronal damage, but also in identifying of causes of SE especially potentially treatable ones
Malikova, H,
Weichet, J,
Status Epilepticus and Periictal MRI Imaging. Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL.
http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14011253.html
