Which PET finding corresponds to seizure-free status?

Which PET finding corresponds to seizure-free status?

• A. Active seizure
• B. Normal metabolism
• C. Seizure free
• D. Decreased sugar use

Answer: (C)

In PET imaging for epilepsy, brain glucose use is what you’re really watching. During a seizure, the involved area shows higher metabolic activity, so ictal PET can reveal a focal hypermetabolic region. Between seizures, some epileptogenic zones may appear hypometabolic, but that pattern does not mean the patient is seizure-free. When someone is seizure-free, the brain’s metabolic pattern generally normalizes, with no focal hyper- or hypometabolism. So the PET finding that corresponds to seizure-free status is normal metabolism, reflecting the absence of ongoing epileptogenic activity. The other patterns describe active or prior abnormal metabolism, not seizure freedom.

In PET imaging for epilepsy, brain glucose use is what you’re really watching. During a seizure, the involved area shows higher metabolic activity, so ictal PET can reveal a focal hypermetabolic region. Between seizures, some epileptogenic zones may appear hypometabolic, but that pattern does not mean the patient is seizure-free. When someone is seizure-free, the brain’s metabolic pattern generally normalizes, with no focal hyper- or hypometabolism. So the PET finding that corresponds to seizure-free status is normal metabolism, reflecting the absence of ongoing epileptogenic activity. The other patterns describe active or prior abnormal metabolism, not seizure freedom.