Relationship between Migration and Outcome in Childhood Epilepsy Using Dipole Analysis

Background: Clinical applications of the dipole localisation method have led to advances in evaluating the location of epileptic discharge. Therefore, we studied the relationship between migration and outcome to clarify the use of dipole analysis in patients with childhood partial epilepsy. Methods: The patients were 38 children, aged 2-14 years with partial epilepsy. We compared dipole tracing with the traditional scalp electroencephalogram (EEG) for evaluating the changes and migration of epileptic foci with age in childhood partial epilepsy as well as the relationship between migration and outcome. Results: Scalp EEG did not show a significant relationship between migration and outcome (p=0.65), but there was a significant relationship for dipole analysis (p=0.037). Lack of migration was correlated with a favorable outcome. Conclusions: Our results suggest that dipole analysis may be useful in assessing outcomes of childhood partial epilepsy.