What is rs-FMRI? And why is it relevant to HH?
Hear how Dr. Varina Boerwinkle, Pediatric Neurologist, Director of Resting State Functional MRI, Texas Children’s Hospital is using resting state functional MRI at Texas Children’s Hospital to better target HH for surgery like laser ablation. More than 70 patients have been tested.
You can listen to her full powerpoint presentation or choose to listen to a shorter interview.
Full Presentation:
Interview with Dr. Boerwinkle:
Description of FMRI:
Also, read below for a description of FMRI. The importance of this research is using tools to target the tumor and seizure pathways while better understanding how to avoid compromising learning and other critical pathways in the process.
What is FMRI? Rs-fMRI (Resting state – functional MRI) is a brain picture that comes from a regular MRI machine. It shows doctors where all of the networks of the brain are located. Networks are areas where important things the brain does, such as walking and talking, are located.
Why is it important to HH? Rs-fMRI is important to HH because it also shows where seizures come from. This way by aiming a laser at the small area of the HH where seizures come from, the doctor can stop the seizures and not hurt the rest of the brain.
How does it work? The big magnet inside the MRI machine senses the brain networks and places where seizures come from because these places use oxygen in a special pattern, which separates them from the others.
Will it hurt? Make the MRI last longer? It does not hurt. Most children receive medication during the scan that causes them to sleep, so that they don’t have to try hard to stay still. The rs-fMRI lasts 20 minutes and is done at the same time as the regular MRI of the brain.
What is the value to the patient and to the surgeon? This test allows the surgeon to know the most likely place to aim his laser to reduce or stop seizures. It is good for the patient because by only damaging the place where seizures come from accurately, the risk of complications from the surgery is much lower because the other areas of the brain important for normal living are left untouched.
