EEG-fMRI in children with pharmacoresistant focal epilepsy

Purpose: To evaluate the usefulness of EEG-combined functional magnetic resonance imaging (EEG-fMRI) to localize epileptogenic sources. Methods: Six children (age 8-15 years) with lesional or nonlesional pharmacoresistant focal epilepsy were studied. Results: We found significant activations in four children, activation and deactivation in one child, and widespread deactivation in another. In four children, activations colocalized with the presumed location of the epileptic focus, one of which was confirmed by intracranial EEG. Conclusions: EEG-fMRI is a promising tool to noninvasively localize epileptogenic regions in children with pharmacoresistant focal epilepsy.