JLE

Epileptic Disorders

MENU

Temporoporal metabolic abnormalities in temporal lobe epilepsies Volume 4, supplement 1, Supplement 1, September 2002


   
  

Figure 1. Definition of the hippocampal plane in MRI. The yellow arrow indicates the horizontal axis of the hippocampal plane, and the blue arrow its coronal plane. Axial MRI and PET slices were recorded along the axial hippocampal plane in a patient with left mesial temporal lobe epilepsy, and the coronal MRI slice was recorded in the same patient who also had left hippocampal sclerosis.




   
   Figure 2. FDG-PET images recorded in a patient with left mesial temporal lobe epilepsy: comparison of the orbitomeatal and hippocampal planes. The yellow arrow indicates the horizontal axis of the hippocampal plane projected onto an external view of the brain. The exact anatomical pattern of the hypometabolism is more apparent in the hippocampal plane. In this patient, reduced metabolic activity is seen in the mesial part of the temporal lobe, the temporal pole and the anterior portion of the left lateral temporal cortex.



   
   Figure 3. Anterior temporal hypometabolism in a patient with left mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. Areas of significant hypometabolism have been superimposed on front- and side-view MRI images of the brain (SPM 96).



   
   Figure 4. Extended temporal hypometabolism in a patient with left mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. Areas of significant hypometabolism have been superimposed on front- and side-view MRI images of the brain (SPM 96).



   
   Figure 5. Temporal pole hypometabolism in a patient with right temporal lobe epilepsy. MRI slices (left) and images of superimposed PET and MRI slices (right). Hypometabolism is confined to the right polar region with no involvement of the mesial part of the temporal lobe (two slices of the right) suggestive of right temporal pole epilepsy.



   
   Figure 6. Severe, anterior temporal hypometabolism in a patient with left temporal lobe epilepsy. MRI slices (left) and images of superimposed PET and MRI slices (right). There is reduced metabolic activity throughout the polar region, the mesial part and anterior part of the left temporal neocortex on the left side. Very common in left mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.



   
   Figure 7. Anterior temporal hypometabolism in a patient with right temporal lobe epilepsy. MRI slices (left) and images of superimposed PET and MRI slices (right). There is reduced metabolic activity throughout the right polar region and the mesial part of the temporal lobe. Very common in right mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.