Abstract #0786

Biophysical Microstructure Markers Are Correlated with Disease Severity in Medial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

Ali Tabesh¹,², Jens H. Jensen¹,², Edward S. Hui¹,², Maria V. Spampinato¹,², Jonathan C. Edwards³, Joseph A. Helpern¹,², Leonardo Bonilha,²³

¹Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States; ²Center for Biomedical Imaging, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States; ³Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Neurosciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States

This study aimed to provide biophysical interpretation of microstructural abnormalities in medial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE), and to determine their association with disease severity. Biophysical modeling was performed with a newly developed cerebral microenvironment modeling (CMM) method compatible with diffusional kurtosis imaging. Nineteen patients with MTLE and 28 matched healthy volunteers were studied. The results suggest that diffusion abnormalities in MTLE may be predominantly associated with cerebral neurite loss. Seizure frequency may be related to myelin degradation, gliosis, and possibly other changes in tissue morphology and permeability. CMM markers may potentially enable early identification of patients with medication-refractory MTLE.