Magnetoencephalography in pediatric neurology and in epileptic syndromes

Verrotti, Alberto; Pizzella, Vittorio; Trotta, Daniela; Madonna, Laura; Chiarelli, Francesco; Romani, Gian Luca

doi:10.1016/S0887-8994(03)00017-1

« Previous Next »Pediatric Neurology
Volume 28, Issue 4 , Pages 253-261, April 2003

Magnetoencephalography in pediatric neurology and in epileptic syndromes

Alberto Verrotti, MD, PhD
- Communications should be addressed to: Dr. Verrotti; Department of Pediatrics; Policlinico Colle Dell’Ara; University G. D’Annunzio; Via dei Vestini, 5 I-66013; Chieti, Italy.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy
Vittorio Pizzella, MD
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Bioimaging, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy, Institute for Advanced Biomedical Technologies, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy, National Institute for the Physics of Matter, UR L’Aquila, Italy
Daniela Trotta, MD
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy
Laura Madonna, MD
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy
Francesco Chiarelli, MD
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy
Gian Luca Romani, MD
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Bioimaging, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy, Institute for Advanced Biomedical Technologies, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy, National Institute for the Physics of Matter, UR L’Aquila, Italy

Received 16 July 2002; accepted 23 December 2002.

Abstract

In recent years, great advances in the knowledge of neuromagnetism have permitted the application of Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices to the pathophysiologic study of the human brain. In particular, in pediatric neurology, the integration of biomagnetism with magnetic resonance imaging and other techniques for medical imaging have allowed for precise neuromagnetic measurements of the human brain.

The more frequently used technique is magnetoencephalography. Recent data have illustrated the usefulness of magnetoencephalography in mapping activity of sensory and motor areas and in studying the spatiotemporal pattern of brain activation specific to somatosensory function. Moreover, magnetoencephalography is an important tool to localize epileptic activity; magnetic source imaging superimposes magnetoencephalographic localizations on the magnetic resonance imaging and yields improved spatial resolution as compared with surface electroencephalography.

The role of magnetoencephalography in evaluating patients with epilepsy continues to evolve; in fact, it seems to be very useful in the localization of the epileptogenic zone in patients with partial epilepsy. This application of magnetoencephalography is essential in the selection of epileptic children candidates to surgical treatment of seizures.