Finding a Presurgical Role for Magnetoencephalography

Magnetoencephalography (MEG) may play an important role in the presurgical workup of patients with nonlesional refractory focal epilepsy suggests a recent observational study.

• Investigators observed 31 patients at an academic epilepsy center to determine if MEG would have had an impact on patient care; (they were unable to analyze the MEG early enough to influence the decision-making process).
• Had the test been integrated into the presurgical workup, 68% of patients would have received different management initially.
• MEG would have reduced the number of patients who received intracranial electrodes.
• MEG would also have led to the position of the electrodes being changed or provided adequate evidence to justify the use of an intracranial electrode.
• The results of the MEG studies would have let surgeons do direct surgery with no need for intracranial electrodes in 2 of 11 patients.
• 6 patients fared poorly after surgery, but MEG would have changed their outcomes in 3 of these patients by modifying the resection margin.

Mohamed IS, Bout hillier A, Bérubé A, et al. The clinical impact of integration of magnetoencephalography in the presurgical workup for refractory nonlesional epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 2018;79:34-41.

Magnetoencephalography (MEG) may play an important role in the presurgical workup of patients with nonlesional refractory focal epilepsy suggests a recent observational study.

• Investigators observed 31 patients at an academic epilepsy center to determine if MEG would have had an impact on patient care; (they were unable to analyze the MEG early enough to influence the decision-making process).
• Had the test been integrated into the presurgical workup, 68% of patients would have received different management initially.
• MEG would have reduced the number of patients who received intracranial electrodes.
• MEG would also have led to the position of the electrodes being changed or provided adequate evidence to justify the use of an intracranial electrode.
• The results of the MEG studies would have let surgeons do direct surgery with no need for intracranial electrodes in 2 of 11 patients.
• 6 patients fared poorly after surgery, but MEG would have changed their outcomes in 3 of these patients by modifying the resection margin.

Mohamed IS, Bout hillier A, Bérubé A, et al. The clinical impact of integration of magnetoencephalography in the presurgical workup for refractory nonlesional epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 2018;79:34-41.

Magnetoencephalography (MEG) may play an important role in the presurgical workup of patients with nonlesional refractory focal epilepsy suggests a recent observational study.

• Investigators observed 31 patients at an academic epilepsy center to determine if MEG would have had an impact on patient care; (they were unable to analyze the MEG early enough to influence the decision-making process).
• Had the test been integrated into the presurgical workup, 68% of patients would have received different management initially.
• MEG would have reduced the number of patients who received intracranial electrodes.
• MEG would also have led to the position of the electrodes being changed or provided adequate evidence to justify the use of an intracranial electrode.
• The results of the MEG studies would have let surgeons do direct surgery with no need for intracranial electrodes in 2 of 11 patients.
• 6 patients fared poorly after surgery, but MEG would have changed their outcomes in 3 of these patients by modifying the resection margin.

Mohamed IS, Bout hillier A, Bérubé A, et al. The clinical impact of integration of magnetoencephalography in the presurgical workup for refractory nonlesional epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 2018;79:34-41.