Diagnosing of Epilepsy

Diagnosis of a seizure disorder is based on the following considerations:

Medical History
The physician needs to know when seizures started, and have a detailed description of seizures. The family’s health history is also considered.

EEG (Electroencephalogram)
An EEG detects electrical impulses in the brain. The brain’s electrical impulses are transmitted from small metal discs placed on the patient’s scalp, through wires which are hooked up to the EEG machine. EEGs are useful in identifying areas of increased nerve cell activity.

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
MRI uses a large magnet positioned around the person to produce a magnetic field in the patient’s body. Precise two or three dimensional images are produces, providing doctors with detailed information about the brain’s structures.

MEG/MSI (Magnetoencephalography/Magnetic Source Imaging)
MEG which is also called MSI, records magnetic brain waves, much the same as an EEG records electrical brain waves. It is used to assess the function of brain tissue.

 

CAT Scan (Computerized Axial Tomography)
A CAT Scan is a special type of radiological procedure which is used to take images of the brain. The x-rays are analyzed by a computer to show the brain’s structures. The information helps doctors spot any damage inside the brain which could be generating abnormal electrical signals.

PET (Positron Emission Tomography)
PET provides information about the brain’s metabolic activities by detecting how quickly tissues absorb radioactive isotopes. A radioactive gas or an IV injection of glucose tagged with isotopes is administered to the person being tested. The isotopes emit positrons that combine with negatively charged electrons in tissue cells to create gamma rays. A computer translates the gamma rays into patterns that reflect cerebral blood flow, blood volume and neuron metabolism.