Predictive Value of EEG-MRI Discordance for Post-surgical Seizure Freedom in Focal Drug-resistant Epilepsy: Experience from the Largest Southeast Asian Cohort
Sidharth S1, Manjari Tripathi4, Deepti Vibha5, Rajesh Kumar Singh3, Jasmine Parihar6, Arunmozhimaran Elavarasi5, P Sarat Chandra2, Madhavi Tripathi7, Ajay Garg3, Shashank Tripathi8
1Neurology, 2Neurosurgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, India, 3All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, India, 4ALL INDIA INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES, 5All India Institute of Medical Sciences, 6All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi., 7AIIMS, 8Biostatistics, UCMS & GTB Hospitals, Delhi
Objective:

To evaluate the impact of EEG–MRI concordance & discordance on post-surgical seizure outcomes in pediatric & adults with focal drug resistant epilepsy (DRE)

Background:
Optimal selection of DRE cases for epilepsy surgery is key to seizure freedom. While video electroencephalogram (VEEG) -Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) concordance aids surgery, discordant cases may still benefit. This study evaluates its impact on seizure outcomes in pediatric and adult DRE.
Design/Methods:

This ambispective study included DRE from a tertiary hospital in India (2014–2024). DRE with VEEG ictal onsets with a single focal MRI lesion were included. MRI-negative cases, >2 lesions, or lobar expansion were excluded. Cases were divided into concordant (Arm A) and discordant (Arm B) groups, with surgical outcomes evaluated using Engel’s scale & ILAE outcome classification

Results:

Of 3891 DRE cases screened, 852 met criteria (754 retrospective, 98 prospective). The cohort included 54.93% adults (≥18 years) and 45.07% pediatric cases (<18 years), with a male predominance (69.13%). VEEG-MRI concordance was seen in 64.2%, discordance in 35.8% (moderate agreement, kappa = 0.527, p<0.05). Among 155 operated cases, seizure freedom (Engel I & ILAE class 1&2) was significantly higher in concordant cases (80.61%)vs discordant (47.37%) (p<0.05).In pediatric cases, seizure freedom was 75.00%(concordant)vs 37.93%(discordant),p=0.003,and in adults, 83.87%vs 57.14%,p=0.006.Temporal lobe focus showed highest seizure freedom(87.84%concordant vs 51.72%discordant, p=0.0001).Seizure control(Engel 1&2) was comparable for 94.8%(concordant) vs 87.72%(discordant)(p>0.05). Resective procedures showed significantly higher seizure freedom in Concordant group(83.72%vs. 56.25%,p=0.002),while non-resective procedures had comparable outcomes(58.33%vs.36.00%,p value= 0.199).

Conclusions:

Concordance was highest in temporal lobe cases(76.66%), while discordance was highest in parietal (73.33%)and occipital(90.48%) cases. Concordant cases had significantly higher post-op seizure freedom. In contrast, seizure control was comparable in both groups, and no significant difference was found between pediatric and adult outcomes in operated discordant and concordant cases

10.1212/WNL.0000000000217795
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