Peri-ictal magnetic resonance imaging in status epilepticus: Temporal relationship and prognostic value in 60 patients

When the mechanisms responsible for terminating epileptic seizures fail, status epilepticus (SE) may occur, resulting in prolonged seizures that can have long-term consequences [1]. In clinical practice, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is commonly used in SE patients as an aid to establish the etiological diagnosis. However, recent studies have described acute MRI changes associated with SE [2–4], which are mainly restriction in diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in different brain areas. Based on the findings in animal models, these features are usually interpreted as stemming from changes in cellular metabolism occurring in the presence of edema secondary to epileptic activity [5]; both vasogenic and cytotoxic edema have been described.

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