PET Scan

[lovetobake]

Hello Everyone...I am new to this site and had a couple questions. I just returned from the video EEG and the doc called with a scheduled ambulatory EEG and PET scan. I had seizures during the video EEG and prior to that my MRI showed the scar tissue on the left side. I am not sure why I need another EEG and I am not sure why I need a PET scan if we already know why I am having the seizures.


Thank you!

[Nakamova]

Hi lovetobake, welcome to CWE!

Your doc can probably answer your questions best , but my guess is that he wants to capture more of the seizures on the EEG, and get a more definitive fix on where in the brain they originate. If you're considering surgery for your seizures, both those tests will help the docs decide whether seizures have a precise enough focus for the surgery to makes sense.

Best,
Nakamova

[Endless]

LovetoBake,

Your doc is the best one to ask the questions. But I'll take a stab at it in the meantime.

PET scans map the brain based on glucose uptake, and often gives a more precise location of some things than other imaging studies do. Since your MRI showed scarring, and your eeg showed seizures, I'm guessing that your doc is trying to pinpoint the location of your seizures to see if surgery is a viable option.

Here's more on PET scans: http://www.biomedresearches.com/root...lepsy/pet.html
http://www.webmd.com/epilepsy/pet-scan-epilepsy

The ambulatory eeg can help pick up additional seizures. I'm betting your doc wants to make sure he is covering all the bases and that he is seeing the origin of all the different types of seizures that you are having. Bigger sample size. More comprehensive. Again, it's more data to help him suggest good treatment choices and alternatives to you.