Pain & Central Nervous System Week via NewsEdge :

2008 OCT 13 - (NewsRx.com) -- Scientists discuss in 'Alpha-methyl-l-tryptophan positron emission tomography in epilepsy with cortical developmental malformations' new findings in epilepsy (see also Epilepsy). "Preliminary studies suggest that alpha[(11)C]methyl-l-tryptophan positron emission tomography can detect the epileptic focus within malformations of cortical development. We determined the sensitivity and specificity of alpha-[(11)C]methyl-l-tryptophan positron emission tomography in identifying epileptic focus in children with intractable, neocortical epilepsy with and without malformations of cortical development," scientists writing in the journal Pediatric Neurology report.

"Seventy-three epileptic children were classified into lesional and nonlesional groups, and compared regarding focal increased alpha-[(11)C]methyl-l-tryptophan uptake. The sensitivity and specificity of focal increased alpha-[(11)C]methyl-l-tryptophan uptake, using intracranial electroencephalogram localization of seizure onset as the standard, were compared between lesional and nonlesional groups. The specificity of alpha-[(11)C]methyl-l-tryptophan positron emission tomography for detecting seizure onset lobe was equally high in lesional (97%) and nonlesional groups (100%), whereas sensitivity was higher in the lesional than the nonlesional group (47% versus 29%; p=0.047). The incidence of alpha-[(11)C]methyl-l-tryptophan uptake abnormality was higher in the lesional than the nonlesional group (p <0.01). Alpha-[(11)C]methyl-l-tryptophan positron emission tomography localized and visualized epileptogenic regions in 25% of patients with nonlocalizing magnetic resonance imaging. Although overall sensitivity of alpha-[(11)C]methyl-l-tryptophan positron emission tomography in identifying neocortical epileptic focus is modest, specificity is extremely high," wrote H. Wakamoto and colleagues, Wayne State University.

The researchers concluded: "When an alpha-[(11)C]methyl-l-tryptophan focus is detected, it likely represents the epileptogenic region to be resected."

Wakamoto and colleagues published their study in Pediatric Neurology (Alpha-methyl-l-tryptophan positron emission tomography in epilepsy with cortical developmental malformations. Pediatric Neurology, 2008;39(3):181-8).

Additional information can be obtained by contacting H. Wakamoto, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Carman and Ann Adams Dept. of Pediatrics, Detroit, Michigan USA..

The publisher of the journal Pediatric Neurology can be contacted at: Elsevier Science Inc., 360 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010-1710, USA.

<>

Return to Epilepsy News