Neuroimaging biomarkers for epilepsy: advances and relevance to glial cells.

ABSTRACT: Glial cells play an important role in normal brain function and emerging evidence would suggest that their dysfunction may be responsible for some epileptic disease states. Neuroimaging of glial cells is desirable, but there are no clear methods to assess neither their function nor localization. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is now part of a standardized epilepsy imaging protocol to assess patients. Structural volumetric and T2-weighted imaging changes can assist in making a positive diagnosis in a majority of patients. The alterations reported in structural and T2 imaging is predominantly thought to reflect early neuronal loss followed by glial hypertrophy. MR spectroscopy for myo-inositol is a being pursued to identify glial alterations along with neuronal markers. Diffusion weighted

SUBMITTER: Obenaus A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4113595 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature