Comparative Efficacy of Neuroimaging Modalities in Diagnosing Structural Abnormalities and Influencing Surgical Outcomes in Newly Diagnosed Epilepsy

Abstract

 Introduction/Background: This study aimed to compare the efficacy of traditional and advanced neuroimaging modalities in diagnosing structural abnormalities, influencing treatment decisions, and surgical outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy

Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted on 150 patients at Batra Hospital and Medical Research Centre, New Delhi, from January 2023 to July 2024. Participants were divided into two groups: the Traditional Imaging Group (Computed Tomography [CT]) and the Advanced Imaging Group (Magnetic Resonance Imaging [MRI], Positron Emission Tomography [PET], and Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography [SPECT]). Primary outcomes included diagnostic accuracy, impact on treatment decisions, and seizure-free status at a 12-month follow-up. Data were analyzed using SPSS, and comparative analyses were performed.

Results: The Advanced Imaging Group exhibited a significantly higher detection rate for structural abnormalities (68%) than the Traditional Imaging Group (32%). Advanced imaging findings influenced treatment decisions in 45% of the cases compared to 20% in the Traditional Imaging Group. Surgical intervention was more frequently recommended in the Advanced Imaging Group (22% vs. 8%, respectively). At the 12-month follow-up, 68% of the patients in the Advanced Imaging Group were seizure-free compared to 52% in the Traditional Imaging Group.

Conclusions: The integration of advanced neuroimaging techniques, including MRI, PET, and SPECT, significantly improves diagnostic accuracy and influences treatment decisions, leading to better surgical outcomes and higher seizure-free rates in patients with epilepsy. These findings advocate the routine use of advanced neuroimaging in epilepsy management to optimize patient care.