Non-Helium Magnetoencephalography in Pediatric Refractory Epilepsy

Non-Helium Magnetoencephalography for Clinical Management of Refractory Epilepsy in Children: An Observational Cohort Study

The goal of this observational study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Magnetoencephalography (MEG) in the preoperative assessment of children with refractory epilepsy, particularly in identifying the seizure focus, and to compare it with the gold standard methods of Stereo-electroencephalography (SEEG) and Electrocorticography (ECoG).

The main questions this study aims to answer are:

1. How consistent is MEG with SEEG/ECoG in locating the epileptic focus in children with refractory epilepsy?
2. What is the clinical efficacy of MEG in identifying epileptic foci?

Participants will:

1. Be divided into 2 groups: the case group and the control group. Participants in the case group will undergo both MEG and SEEG/ECoG for preoperative assessment, while patients in the control group will undergo only SEEG/ECoG before surgery.
2. Be followed up at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery to assess seizure control, neurological function, and quality of life.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age range: 3-18 years old;
2. Clinically diagnosed with refractory epilepsy;
3. Capable of cooperating with magnetoencephalography evaluation and recording.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients with serious comorbidities or neurological or psychiatric disorders that affect magnetoencephalography examination.
2. Patients using drugs that affect central nervous system function;
3. Patients who are not suitable for surgical procedures;
4. Patients with progressive neurological disorders.