Current clinical magnetoencephalography practice across Europe: Are we closer to use MEG as an established clinical tool?. (August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: De Tiège, Xavier; Lundqvist, Daniel; Beniczky, Sándor; Seri, Stefano; Paetau, Ritva
• Is Part Of: Seizure. Volume 50(2017)
• Page Start: 53
• Page End: 59
• Publication Date: 2017-08
• Subjects: Magnetoencephalography -- Europe -- Survey -- Epilepsy -- Pre-surgical evaluation -- Functional mapping; Epilepsy -- Periodicals; Epilepsy -- Periodicals; Seizures -- Periodicals; Épilepsie -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; Electronic journals; 616.853
• DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2017.06.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1059-1311

Abstract

Highlights: First survey of clinical MEG practice across Europe. There is in Europe an increasing and widespread expertise in clinical MEG. There is a need to harmonize clinical MEG procedures in Europe. There is a need to promote the clinical added value of MEG in Europe. MEG is a mature clinical neurophysiological tool that should be routinely used. Abstract: Purpose: This comprehensive survey aims at characterizing the current clinical use of magnetoencephalography (MEG) across European MEG centres. Methods: Forty-four MEG centres across Europe were contacted in May 2015 via personalized e-mail to contribute to survey. The web-based survey was available on-line for 1 month and the MEG centres that did not respond were further contacted to maximize participation. Results: Among the 57% of responders, 12 centres from 10 different countries reported to use MEG for clinical applications. A total of 524 MEG investigations were performed in 2014 for the pre-surgical evaluation of epilepsy, while in the same period 244 MEG investigations were performed for pre-surgical functional brain mapping. Seven MEG centres located in different European countries performed ≥50 MEG investigations for epilepsy mapping in 2014, both in children and adults. In those centres, time from patient preparation to MEG data reporting tends to be lower than those investigating a lower annual number of patients. Conclusion: This survey demonstrates that there is in Europe an increasing and widespread expertise in the field of clinical MEG. These findings should serve as a basis to harmonize clinical MEG procedures and promote the clinical added value of MEG across Europe. MEG should now be considered in Europe as a mature clinical neurophysiological technique that should be used routinely in two specific clinical indications, i.e, the pre-surgical evaluation of refractory focal epilepsy and functional brain mapping.