Abstract
The EEG patterns seen with encephalopathies can be correlated to cerebral imaging findings including head computerized tomography and MRI. Background slowing without slow-wave intrusion is seen with acute and chronic cortical impairments that spare subcortical white matter. Subcortical/white matter structural abnormalities or hydrocephalus may produce projected slow-wave activity, while clinical entities involving both cortical and subcortical regions (diffuse cerebral abnormalities) engender both background slowing and slow-wave activity. Triphasic waves are seen with hepatic and renal insufficiency or medication toxicities (e.g., lithium, baclofen) in the absence of a significant cerebral imaging abnormality, Conversely, subcortical/white matter abnormalities may facilitate the appearance of triphasic waves without significant hepatic, renal, or toxic comorbidities. More specific syndromes, such as Jakob-Creutzfeldt disease, autoimmune limbic encephalitis, autoimmune corticosteroid-responsive encephalopathy with thyroid autoimmunity, sepsis-associated encephalopathy, and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, have imaging/EEG changes that are variable but which may include slowing and epileptiform activity. This overview highlighting EEG-imaging correlations may help the treating physician in the diagnosis, and hence the appropriate treatment, of patients with encephalopathy.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 233-251 |
Number of pages | 19 |
Journal | Journal of Clinical Neurophysiology |
Volume | 28 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 1 2011 |
Keywords
- Cortical atrophy
- EEG
- Encephalitis
- Encephalopathy
- Imaging
- MRI
- Nonparaneoplastic
- Subcortical atrophy
- TWs
- Triphasic waves
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physiology
- Neurology
- Clinical Neurology
- Physiology (medical)