MRI findings in epileptic patients

The study involved 88 patients with epilepsy aged 16-43. The patients were divided into 2 groups, group 1 consisted of 42 patients with idiopathic epilepsy, group 2 of 46 patients with symptomatic epilepsy MRI study was performed using OBRAZ-1 unit. Different morphological changes in the brain of the patients from the both groups were revealed. It has been demonstrated that heterogeneity of structural and functional changes in the patients with epilepsy suggests of different etiopathogenic mechanisms causing epileptic attacks. MRI allows to reveal in vivo early changes in the brain of epileptic patients Enlargement of the 3 rd and the 4th ventricles and paratruncal cisterns are characteristic for the patients with idiopathic epilepsy. In the patients with symptomatic epilepsy changes of the brain substance (cysts, cicartrico degenerative processes, sub- and epidural hematomas, tumors, arteriovenous malformations) are observed in addition to the above changes. To determine the tactics of treatment (either therapeutic or surgical), it is necessary to carry out MRI study to all the patients with epileptic attacks, especially if they appear after the age of 30