Quantitative mri of the amygdala in childhood idiopathic partial epilepsy

Dr Demet Günsür10.2. NG L ZCE ÖZETQUANTITATIVE MRI OF THE AMYGDALA IN CHILDHOOD IDIOPATHICPARTIAL EPILEPSYPURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to compare the amygdala volumes of childrenwith idiopathic partial epilepsy and normal pediatric age patients using volumetric MRIand to determine if there is significant differance.METHODS: Twenty-nine patients with idiopathic partial epilepsy between 2- 16 yearsof age were studied. Nineteen age (3- 17) and sex matched healthy children served asthe control group. Patients with the history of any MMR,perinatal insult, intracranialinfection or neurodegenerative disease were excluded. The right and left amygdalarvolumes of the study and control group patients were evaluated using volumetric MRIby the same radiologist.RESULTS: The right and left amygdalar volumes were found significantly decreasedin the study patients compared with the control subjects (p=0,036, p=0,022). Thecorrected left amygdalar volume was found significantly decreased in the study patients(p=0,042). The corrected right amygdala volume was decreased in the study patientscompared with the control subjects but the result was not istatisticaly significant(p=0,062). The amygdala ipsilateral to the seizure focus was smaller but the result wasnot significant.CONCLUSIONS: In patients with either left or right idiopathic partial epilepsy, thevolüme of amygdala was significantly smaller than in normal controls. Both left andright corrected amygdalar volumes were decreased in the study group patients but theresult was significant only in left partial epilepsy patients.