Evaluation of Diffusion Tensor Imaging Versus MRI Epilepsy Protocol in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Patients (Code-T0170)

Introduction: Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is the most common focal epilepsy syndrome, often associated with structural and microstructural abnormalities in the brain. While conventional MRI epilepsy protocols are standard for identifying macroscopic structural changes, Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) provides insights into microstructural alterations, potentially improving diagnostic accuracy and treatment planning.

Aims and Objectives

Aim: Comparison of Diffusion Tensor Imaging with MRI Epilepsy Protocol in patients of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

Objective:

1. To compare the diagnostic accuracy of Diffusion Tensor Imaging with normal MRI Epilepsy Protocol in temporal lobe epilepsy patients.
2. To establish Diffusion Tensor Imaging as the gold standard MR imaging sequence for epilepsy.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted on patients diagnosed with TLE. All participants underwent imaging using both conventional MRI epilepsy protocols and DTI on a 3T MRI scanner. DTI parameters, including fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD), were analyzed and compared with conventional MRI findings. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the correlation between imaging findings and clinical presentations.

Results: Preliminary results show that DTI identifies microstructural changes in the temporal lobe that are not evident on conventional MRI, particularly in cases with normal MRI findings. Reduced FA and increased MD values in specific regions correlated with seizure severity and duration.

Conclusion: DTI offers complementary diagnostic value to conventional MRI epilepsy protocols in TLE by detecting microstructural abnormalities. Its integration into routine imaging may improve diagnostic precision and guide treatment strategies.

Keywords: Temporal Lobe Epilepsy, Diffusion Tensor Imaging, MRI Epilepsy Protocol, Fractional Anisotropy, Mean Diffusivity, Diagnostic Accuracy.