MRI head without contrast | MRI head without and with contrast | CT head without and with contrast | CT head without contrast | FDG-PET head | SPECT head | fMRI head | MEG/ MSI | MRA head | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chronic epilepsy, poor therapeutic response. Surgery candidate. | 8 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 7a | 5a | 5a | 5b | 3 |
New onset seizure. ETOH, and/or drug related. | 7c | 8c | 6c | 5c | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
New onset seizure. Aged 18–40 years. | 8c | 7c | 6c | 5c | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
New onset seizure. Older than age 40. | 7c | 8c | 3c | 5c | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
New onset seizure. Focal neurological deficit. | 8c | 8c | 7c | 6c | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Rating Scale: 1, least appropriate; 9, most appropriate.
a May be helpful in pre-op planning.
b Data probably equivalent to BOLD and SPECT.
c In the acute or emergency setting, CT may be the imaging study of choice.