HMPAO SPECT IN NONEPILEPTIC SEIZURES - PRELIMINARY-RESULTS

The diagnosis of non-epileptic seizures (NES) is problematic. Although diagnosis can be achieved by videotelemetry, these facilities are exp ensive and not widely available. HMPAO SPECT studies show focal hypope rfusion interictally in focal epilepsy. SPECT has not been studied in any detail in NES previously. Two groups (10 patients each) were studi ed, one with NES and one with complex partial seizures and localisatio n related epilepsy. SPECT scans were normal in 7 of 10 (70%) NES patie nts, while showing clear focal hypoperfusion in 8 of 10 patients (80%) with epilepsy. In the NES group, 1 patient showed hypoperfusion indis tinguishable from that seen in epilepsy, while 2 patients in the epile psy group showed only equivocal focal hypoperfusion. The remaining 2 p atients in the NES group showed bifrontal and equivocal focal hypoperf usion. A normal HMPAO SPECT study supports the diagnosis of NES in pat ients with seizures of uncertain aetiology.