Refined MRI scans allow location of seizures

An improvement in technology is allowing neurologists in Montreal to find and remove more lesions that cause epileptic seizures.

Dr. Andrea Bernasconi of the Montreal Neurological Institute has developed a unique computer program that refines MRI scans, meaning that lesions previously undetectable can now be seen.

A refined MRI scan in red shows more lesions. "There are approximately 20,000 people across Canada that could benefit from epilepsy surgery," said the neurologist.

"I think a significant proportion of these patients are actually not diagnosed properly. It means that maybe we miss some of the little lesions that are in the brains of these individuals."

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that affects about one per cent of the Canadian population. In some cases, the seizures can be controlled by medication but other times surgery is needed.
The institute's epilepsy clinic sees some 2,000 people a year. Once patients are referred to a neurologist and they receive the refined MRI, it may be possible to bring the epileptic seizures under control.

"It could be a benign tumour that could be completely [removed]," said Dr. Andre Olivier, chief neurosurgeon at the Montreal Neurological Institute. "Then you're treating both the tumour, which is a lesion, and the epilepsy."

If brain lesions can be identified on an MRI, neurosurgeons say they can safely remove them 80 per cent of the time.

Dr. Andrea Bernasconi Michel Charrier hopes the new technique may help him. Charrier's seizures hit at night and can't be controlled by medication.

"I just go to bed," said Charrier. "And wake up in the hospital asking what day it is, what my name is and I say, 'how the heck did I get here?"

Charrier is waiting to find out if he is a candidate for surgery.