Structural and functional visualization diagnostics

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The modern high-resolution visualization diagnostics plays the vital role in determining the brain area where the epileptic seizures are developed and in defining the reasons of seizures in case of focal epilepsy. Besides that there are more and more opportunities for brain functions mapping by means of functional image transmission.

Over the recent years the structural and functional visualization diagnostics has acquired the substantial significance in diagnostics, especially in case of focal epilepsy. In an increasing number of cases by means of the enhanced magnetic resonance imaging scanners it has become possible to detect the potential reason of the focal epilepsy which is mapped as an affected area during the MRI procedure.  The post-processing methods can increase the sensitivity of this detection also in such difficult cases for diagnosis as the structural damage of cerebral cortex. The functional visualization methods which register the metabolic activity or the brain blood circulation between or during the epileptic seizures help to elicit even more essential features of epileptic focus localization. The functional magnetic resonance imaging gives additional important information about the functionally significant brain areas.

In Freiburg in the Department of Neuroradiology as well as in the Department of Medical Physics there are 3T-MRI scanners for the structural and functional high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging. The research of brain functions among the patients with epilepsy is made in cooperation with the Department of Nuclear Medicine.