Abstract:
Objective To explore the value of derived parameters based on dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) in the evaluation of epilepsy recurrence caused by cerebral cysticercosis (CC).
Methods Forty patients with acute epilepsy caused by CC treatment in the Second People's Hospital of Baoshan City, Yunnan Province from January to December 2020 were analyzed retrospectively, including 22 males and 18 females, aged (35.6±11.0) years. On the basis of whether epilepsy has recurred within 6 months, all patients were divided into a recurrent group and a non-recurrent group. The DCE-MRI-derived parameters, such as rate constant (Kep), volume transfer constant (Ktrans), and extravascular extracellular volume fraction (Ve), were observed and recorded in all patients at first admission and 6 months after follow-up. Independent sample t-test or χ2 test was used for intergroup comparison.
Results Among the 40 patients, 16 were in the recurrent group, and 24 were in the non-recurrent group. No significant difference in general data, such as gender, age, first seizure time, and epilepsy types, existed between the two groups (χ2=0.020, t=0.692, t=0.902, χ2=0.030, all P>0.05). At the first admission, the levels of Kep, Ve, and Ktrans in the non-recurrent group were (30.17±5.32)×10−2/min, (102.32±6.58)×10−2, and (19.98±2.64)×10−2/min, respectively, which were significantly lower than those in the recurrent group ((36.32±4.36)×10−2/min, (110.35±7.12)×10−2, (23.21±3.21)×10−2/min), and the differences were statistically significant (t=3.839, 3.660, 3.477, all P<0.001). Six months after follow-up, the levels of Kep, Ve, and Ktrans in the non-recurrent group were (12.57±3.29)×10−2/min, (78.02±4.36)×10−2, and (17.96±3.01)×10−2/min, respectively, which were also significantly lower than those in the recurrent group ((24.25±3.58)×10−2/min, (90.37±8.27)×10−2, (23.32±3.98)×10−2/min), and the differences were statistically significant (t=10.620, 10.161, 4.848, all P<0.001).
Conclusion BBB permeability can be analyzed via DCE-MRI-derived parameters, which has important value in evaluating the recurrence of epilepsy caused by CC.