Analysis of temporal lobe resections in MR images

Purpose: The nature of the resection in surgery for intractable medial temp oral lobe epilepsy is likely to be a principal factor determining seizure a nd neuropsychological outcome. However, there is no universally accepted sy stem for describing the characteristics of individual resections to allow c omparison between patients and patient groups treated at different institut ions. We therefore developed a technique of volumetric analysis of temporal lobe resections. Methods: With comparison of coregistered pre- and postoperative, volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans in 10 subjects, the volumes of six temporal lobe substructures were determined by manual delineation in the pr e- and postoperative images for each case, allowing the extent of resection to be determined. Results: The substructures and their extent of resection were measured with acceptable repeatability in each case. Conclusions: We developed a reliable method for the quantitative descriptio n of temporal lobe resections. This will be of application in determining t he relation between the anatomic nature of the resection in intractable epi lepsy and the seizure and neuropsychological outcome.