Magnetization transfer and diffusion-weighted imaging in nocturnal frontallobe epilepsy

The authors assessed the presence of brain abnormalities in 21 patients wit h nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy (NFLE), using magnetization transfer rati o (MTR) and mean diffusivity ((D) over bar) histograms. Compared with healt hy volunteers and patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy, patients w ith NFLE had lower MTR (p = 0.002 and 0.01) and (D) over bar (p = 0.03 and 0.04) histogram peak heights. Subtle and widespread abnormalities related t o intra- and extracellular distribution and motion of water are detectable in the brains of patients with NFLE.