Epilepsy

Journal Article · Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1991 · Journal of Nuclear Medicine; (USA)

OSTI ID:5800837

Fisher, R S; Frost, J J ^[1]

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1. Johns Hopkins Univ., Baltimore, MD (USA)

As surgical treatments for adult and pediatric forms of epilepsy have become more refined, methods for noninvasive localization of epileptogenic foci have become increasingly important. Detection of focal brain metabolic or flow abnormalities is now well recognized as an essential step in the presurgical evaluation of many patients with epilepsy. Positron emission tomography (PET) scanning is most beneficial when used in the context of the total clinical evaluation of patients, including scalp EEG, invasive EEG, neuropsychologic testing, etc. Metabolic PET studies also give insight into pathophysiologic mechanisms of epilepsy. The dynamic nature of the interictal hypometabolism observed with 18(F)FDG in some patients suggests that excitatory or inhibitory neurotransmitters and their receptors may be involved. An exciting current application of PET scanning is the use of tracers for neurotransmitter receptors in the study of epilepsy patients. Mu and non-mu opiate receptors have been extensively studied and are beginning to give new insights into this disorder. Increased labeling of mu receptors in temporal neocortex using 11C-carfentanil has been demonstrated and, in some patients, supplements the clinical localization information from 18(F)FDG studies. Increased mu opiate receptor number or affinity is thought to play a role in anticonvulsant mechanisms. Specificity of increased mu receptors is supported by the absence of significant changes in non-mu opiate receptors. Other brain receptors are also of interest for future studies, particularly those for excitatory neurotransmitters. Combined studies of flow, metabolism, and neuroreceptors may elucidate the factors responsible for initiation and termination of seizures, thus improving patient treatment.95 references.

• OSTI ID: 5800837
• Journal Information: Journal of Nuclear Medicine; (USA), Vol. 32:4; ISSN 0161-5505
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
BRAIN
POSITRON COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY
EPILEPSY
DIAGNOSIS
CARBON 11
ENDORPHINS
FLUORINE 18
GLUCOSE
METABOLISM
PATIENTS
RECEPTORS
REVIEWS
ALDEHYDES
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM AGENTS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-PLUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BODY
CARBOHYDRATES
CARBON ISOTOPES
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DISEASES
DOCUMENT TYPES
DRUGS
EMISSION COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FLUORINE ISOTOPES
HEXOSES
HOURS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MEMBRANE PROTEINS
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
MONOSACCHARIDES
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NERVOUS SYSTEM DISEASES
NEUROREGULATORS
NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PROTEINS
RADIOISOTOPES
SACCHARIDES
TOMOGRAPHY
550601* - Medicine- Unsealed Radionuclides in Diagnostics