Publication

Grey and white matter abnormalities in temporal lobe epilepsy with and without mesial temporal sclerosis

Scanlon, Cathy
Mueller, Susanne G.
Cheong, Ian
Hartig, Miriam
Weiner, Michael W.
Laxer, Kenneth D.
Citation
Scanlon, Cathy; Mueller, Susanne G. Cheong, Ian; Hartig, Miriam; Weiner, Michael W.; Laxer, Kenneth D. (2013). Grey and white matter abnormalities in temporal lobe epilepsy with and without mesial temporal sclerosis. Journal of Neurology 260 (9), 2320-2329
Abstract
Temporal lobe epilepsy with (TLE-mts) and without (TLE-no) mesial temporal sclerosis display different patterns of cortical neuronal loss, suggesting that the distribution of white matter damage may also differ between the sub-groups. The purpose of this study was to examine patterns of white matter damage in TLE-mts and TLE-no and to determine if identified changes are related to neuronal loss at the presumed seizure focus. The 4 T diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and T1-weighted data were acquired for 22 TLE-mts, 21 TLE-no and 31 healthy controls. Tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) was used to compare fractional anisotropy (FA) maps and voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was used to identify grey matter (GM) volume atrophy. Correlation analysis was conducted between the FA maps and neuronal loss at the presumed seizure focus. In TLE-mts, reduced FA was identified in the genu, body and splenium of the corpus callosum, bilateral corona radiata, cingulum, external capsule, ipsilateral internal capsule and uncinate fasciculus. In TLE-no, FA decreases were identified in the genu, the body of the corpus callosum and ipsilateral anterior corona radiata. The FA positively correlated with ipsilateral hippocampal volume. Widespread extra-focal GM atrophy was associated with both sub-groups. Despite widespread and extensive GM atrophy displaying different anatomical patterns in both sub-groups, TLE-mts demonstrated more extensive FA abnormalities than TLE-no. The microstructural organization in the corpus callosum was related to hippocampal volume in both patients and healthy subjects demonstrating the association of these distal regions.
Funder
Publisher
Springer Nature
Publisher DOI
10.1007/s00415-013-6974-3
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Ireland