Abstract

Dr. Sunila Jaggi, Dr. Sonali Shah, *Dr. Disha Sunil Kaj and Dr. Inder Talwar

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Epilepsy is the first most common chronic condition seen by a paediatrician and the second most common neurological condition seen by neurologists. MRI has become the most important imaging modality in paediatric neuroimaging due to lack of radiation exposure and better delineation of pathologies. Our study had described the spectrum of abnormalities in paediatric patients (0-18years) with epilepsy. Methods: A prospective study of 50 patients, who presented with history of epilepsy and suspected intracranial abnormalities, underwent MRI of Brain on an elective basis. Results: Of the 50 patients, 35 (70%) had abnormal MRI scans and 15 (30%) had normal scans. The final diagnosis were as follows- Malformations of cortical development (12 patients- 24%) of which 4 had focal cortical dysplasia, another 4 had grey matter heterotopia, and one patient each with hemimegalencephaly, lishencephaly, polymicrogyria, and schizencephaly. Perinatal insult (8 patients- 16%), Hippocampal malrotation (8 patients- 16%), Neoplasms (5 patients -10%), Mesial temporal Sclerosis (4 patients- 8%), Infections (4 patients-8%), Neurocutaneous syndromes (2 patients- 4%), Vascular malformation (1 patient- 2%). Conclusion: MRI is the imaging modality of choice in patients with paediatric epilepsy for better characterisation and delineation of lesions, aiding in surgical outcomes and also to understand the prognosis of the disease.