Diffusion and volumetry abnormalities in subcortical nuclei of patients with absence seizures

Abstract

These findings provide preliminary evidence demonstrating that microstructural changes of subcortical structures are related to the chronic abnormal epileptic activity, and add further evidence for the involvement of thalamus and basal ganglia in propagation and modulation of SWDs in absence epilepsy. These results also indicate that DTI is more sensitive for detection of abnormal structure than the conventional MRI, and it may be adopted as a noninvasive means to understand the pathophysiologic evolution of absence seizures.