Cortical dysplasia: Tc-99m ECD SPECT findings and comparative study with MRI according to pathologic grading

Cortical dysplasia (CD) designates a diverse group of malformations resulting from one or more abnormalities in the development of the cerebral cortex. We investigated the findings of interictal SPECT and the diagnostic usefulness of interical and ictal SEPCT according to pathological grading (PG) in comparison with MRI. This study included 16 patients (M:F=9:7, age: 19.9 ±11.8 yrs) with pathologically proven CD. Tc-99m ECD SPECT was performed in all patients: interical 11, interictal and ictal 3, ictal 2. MRI were obtained in all patients and image analysis was done blindly as to the result of SPECT. Pathologic findings of CD were classified into grade 1 (G1, dyslamination), grade 2(G2, dysplastic neutrons) and grade 3 (G3, balloon cells). We compared SPECT with MRI in lesions-to-lesions and analyzed the result according to PG. In SPECT and MRI, 38 and 27 lesions were visually recognized. In 14 interictal SPECT, variable findings in 35 lesions were demonstrated: 26 were hypoperfusion, 7 hyperperfusion, 2 heterotopic perfusion in the white matter. By comparison between two studies, missed lesions were founded: SPECT were 1 lesion, MRI 12. Review of missed 12 lesions of MRI were followed according to PG: G1 patients were 16.7% (4/19), G2 40.0% (6/15), and G3 50% (2/4). Interictal SPECT in CD showed variable findings such as hypoperfusin, hyperperfusion or heterotopic perfusion. However, for detection of missed CD on MRI, SPECT may help to detect a functional abnormality of the lesion with high PG