Pre-operative Mapping of the Anterior Temporal Lobe Using Functional MRI Innovative Techniques in in Drug-resistant Epileptic Patients

Launched by CENTRAL HOSPITAL, NANCY, FRANCE · Apr 14, 2022

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The CARTA study is looking at new ways to map a specific area of the brain called the ventral anterior temporal lobe (vATL) in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. This type of epilepsy does not respond to standard medications, and some patients may be candidates for surgery to remove the part of the brain causing their seizures. However, it's important to identify critical areas in the brain that help with functions like naming things and recognizing faces, as removing these areas can lead to problems even if seizures stop. The study will use advanced brain imaging techniques to better visualize the vATL, which could help predict how well a patient will do after surgery.

To be eligible for this study, participants must be adults with epilepsy that doesn’t respond to medication and who are considering surgery, or healthy volunteers without any issues related to the anterior temporal lobe. Participants will undergo a special type of brain scan that uses innovative methods to improve the clarity of the images, allowing researchers to see important brain functions better. This research could help shape future treatments for epilepsy patients by enhancing surgical planning and improving outcomes after surgery.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Adult person,
• • Person affiliated to a social security scheme or beneficiary of such a scheme,
• • Person having received complete information on the organization of the Clinical Investigation and having signed informed consent,
• • Person having carried out a preliminary clinical examination adapted to the Clinical Investigation,
• • For patients: Person with drug-resistant structural focal epilepsy of the anterior temporal lobe (right or left), candidate for epilepsy surgery (anterior temporal lobectomy),
• • For healthy volunteers: Person with no known pathology in the anterior temporal lobe (particularly epilepsy).
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Contraindication to MRI including claustrophobia,
• • Uncorrected visual disturbances,
• • Person unable to give consent,
• • Lack of mastery of the French language or ability to understand instructions,
• • Person referred to in Articles 64, 65 and 66 of European Regulation 2017/745: Person of full age unable to consent alone to participate in the Clinical Investigation; Minor; Pregnant or breastfeeding woman.