Comparison of quantitative fMRI with FDG-PET in pre-surgical epilepsy
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigating a non-invasive MRI measurement of cerebral metabolism – A comparison of quantitative fMRI with FDG-PET in pre-surgical evaluation of epilepsy
IRAS ID
189277
Contact name
Richard Wise
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cardiff University
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
31280, Health and Care Research Wales Clinical Research Portfolio
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Investigating a non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurement of brain metabolism – A comparison with fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) in pre-surgical evaluation of epilepsy.\n\nThe metabolic rate of oxygen consumption in the brain is closely linked to levels of brain activity. This is because the brain obtains most of its energy in so called aerobic metabolism. Alterations in the resting rate of metabolism can be indicative of disease processes, which can result in dysfunctional energy production. \n\nMapping of brain’s metabolic function has, hitherto, relied on techniques that require the injection of radioactive tracers, such as FDG-PET. PET’s use of radiation restricts its repeated use in patients and healthy volunteers, hampering research into normal development, brain diseases, aging, and drug development. A method for mapping the resting rate of metabolism without the need to inject a radioactive tracer would be valuable for diagnosis and monitoring of a wide range of brain diseases. \n\nThis project aims to validate new fMRI methods to quantify metabolic function in temporal lobe epilepsy, where there is known to be a reduction in metabolism in affected areas. Patients with temporal lobe epilepsy undergoing pre-surgical evaluation at the University Hospital of Wales (UHW) will be eligible to participate in this study (if their standard care would normally include an FDG-PET scan).\n\nParticipants will undergo a quantitative FDG-PET scan at the UHW and a quantitative fMRI scan at the Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre. The fMRI session will last approximately 1 hour and will require participants to breathe altered levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide during the imaging session. The altered levels of gasses are within normal physiological ranges and are used instead of a radioactive tracer to enable quantification of the brain’s metabolism. The study is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.
REC name
Wales REC 3
REC reference
16/WA/0293
Date of REC Opinion
19 Dec 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion