The Radiological Patterns of MRI Findings in Seizure Disorders in a Tertiary Centre: The LASUTH Experience.

Abstract

Summary:

Seizure disorders, affecting millions globally, require accurate diagnosis and Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays a crucial role in identifying structural abnormalities associated with seizures. However, there is a limited study on the radiological patterns in MRI findings in a tertiary center in Nigeria. This study aimed to analyze MRI findings in seizure patients at a resource-limited tertiary center in Lagos, Nigeria, and to assess the relationship between age and MRI pathologies. A retrospective descriptive study was conducted on 122 patients who underwent brain MRI for seizure disorders. Data on demographics, seizure types, and MRI findings were extracted from electronic archives and analyzed using SPSS version 27.0. Pearson chi-square tests were used to examine the relationship between age and MRI findings, with a significance level of p ≤ 0.05. Normal MRI findings were present in 46.7% of patients. Among the MRI-revealed seizure pathologies: 91.8% were classified as "Unknown," while seizure anomalies were recorded the remaining 8.2%, of which 53.3% of patients with cortical abnormalities being the most common (40.2%). An inverse relationship was observed between age and MRI pathology prevalence, with younger patients exhibiting more abnormalities. Cortical abnormalities were the most prevalent MRI finding, and a clear inverse relationship between age and MRI pathology was demonstrated. The findings underscore the need for improved access to advanced neuroimaging and EEG services to enhance epilepsy diagnosis and management in Nigeria.