Seizure outcomes in relation to the extent of resection of the perifocal fluorodeoxyglucose and flumazenil PET abnormalities in anteromedial temporal lobectomy

Background The area of predominant perifocal [ 18 F]fluorodeoxyglucose ( 18 F-FDG) hypometabolism and reduced [ 11 C]flumazenil ( 11 C-FMZ) -binding on PET scans is currently considered to contain the epileptogenic zone and corresponds anatomically to the area localizing epileptogenicity in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). The question is whether the volume of the perifocal pre-operative PET abnormalities, the extent of their resection, and the volume of the non-resected abnormalities affects the post-operative seizure outcome. Methods The sample group consisted of 32 patients with mesial temporal sclerosis who underwent anteromedial temporal lobe resection for refractory TLE. All patients had pathologic perifocal findings on both of the PET modalities as well as on the whole-brain MRI. The volumetric data of the PET and MRI abnormalities within the resected temporal lobe were estimated by automated quantitative voxel-based analysis. The obtained volumetric data were investigated in relation to the outcome subgroups of patients (Engel classification) determined at the 2-year post-operative follow-up. Results The mean volume of the pre-operative perifocal 18 F-FDG- and 11 C-FMZ PET abnormalities in the volumes of interest (VOI) of the epileptogenic temporal lobe, the mean resected volume of these PET abnormalities, the mean volume of the non-resected PET abnormalities, and the mean MRI-derived resected volume were not significantly related to the outcome subgroups and had a low prediction for individual freedom from seizures. Conclusions The extent of pre-surgical perifocal PET abnormalities, the extent of their resection, and the extent of non-resected abnormalities were not useful predictors of individual freedom from seizures in patients with TLE.