Comparison of fluorine-18 deoxyglucose and O-15 water PET in temporal lobeepilepsy

This study reports a comparison of Fluorine-18 deoxyglucose positron emissi on tomography (FDG-PET) and O-15 water ((H2O)-O-15) PET with regard to late ralization of the seizure focus in patients with complex partial epilepsy. The analysis of 35 patients who had an anterior temporal lobectomy for medi cally intractable seizures indicated that FDG- and (H2O)-O-15-PET were high ly correlated in demonstrating the epileptic focus. FDG- and (H2O)-O-15-PET showed significant asymmetries in 83% and 77% of cases respectively The la teralization with visual analysis of MRI was found to be lower than both FD G and blood pow imaging. Ictal electroencephalography (EEG) lateralizations were concordant with sites of bloodflow and FDG-PET abnormalities. Thirty- three patients (94%) were seizure-free or improved significantly after surg ery In conclusion, blood flow PET yielded similar results compared to FDG-P ET and can be a valuable modality in preoperative evaluation of patients wi th temporal lobe epilepsy.