New MRI technique improves epilepsy treatment options

A new technique using powerful MRI scanners may help doctors find small differences in the brains of people with hard-to-treat epilepsy. This could allow more patients to qualify for surgery that could change their lives. In the UK, about 630,000 people have epilepsy. Around 60% experience focal seizures that start in one part of the brain but can spread. A third of these patients still have frequent seizures even with medication, and surgery is often their best chance for a cure. Doctors typically use MRI scans to spot lesions in the brain that cause seizures. The new 7T scanners provide clearer brain images because they have more magnetic strength than standard 3T scanners. However, they can also create "blackspots" where details are unclear, similar to weak WiFi signals in some areas. Researchers from the University of Cambridge and Universite Paris-Saclay developed a technique called "parallel transmit." This uses eight transmitters around the patient's head, improving image clarity by reducing blackspots. Professor Chris Rodgers explained that this method works like having a WiFi mesh, ensuring better coverage and clearer images of brain tissues. The trial, published in the journal Epilepsia, involved 31 patients at Addenbrooke's Hospital. The new technique found previously hidden lesions in nine patients. It confirmed suspected lesions in four others and ruled out lesions in four additional patients. The scans were clearer in over half of the cases compared to standard scans. As a result of the study, 18 patients had changes made to their epilepsy management. Dr. Thomas Cope, a neurologist, emphasized how critical it is to precisely locate the source of seizures for effective treatment. He added that this technique could open doors for more patients to receive life-saving surgery.