Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41105436›Full record

ArticleEpilepsia2026

Value of ultra-high-field MRI in patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy and negative 3T MRI (EpiUltraStudy): Diagnostic gain of 7T structural analysis.

Rick H G J van Lanen, Daniel Uher, Christianne M C Hoeberigs, Paul A M Hofman, Remco Santegoeds, Christopher Wiggins, Desmond H Y Tse, Esther G M Steijvers, Jacobus F A Jansen, Gerald S Drenthen and 26 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Epilepsia, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

36 authors.

Rick H G J van LanenDepartment of Neurosurgery, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6557-9127
Daniel UherMental Health and Neuroscience Research Institute (MHeNs), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Christianne M C HoeberigsDepartment of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Paul A M HofmanDepartment of Radiology, Horatio Oduber Hospital, Oranjestad, Aruba.
Remco SantegoedsDepartment of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Christopher WigginsImaging Core Facility, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine Forschungzentrum Juelich, Juelich, Germany.
Desmond H Y TseScannexus, Ultra-High Field MRI Research Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Esther G M SteijversScannexus, Ultra-High Field MRI Research Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0790-9260
Jacobus F A JansenMental Health and Neuroscience Research Institute (MHeNs), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Gerald S DrenthenMental Health and Neuroscience Research Institute (MHeNs), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7708-8501
Alard RoebroeckDepartment of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Dimo IvanovDepartment of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Benedikt A PoserDepartment of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Sander M J van KuijkDepartment of Clinical Epidemiology and Medical Technology Assessment, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Govert HooglandDepartment of Neurosurgery, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Kim RijkersDepartment of Neurosurgery, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Louis G L WagnerAcademic Center for Epileptology, Kempenhaeghe (Maastricht University Medical Center+), Heeze, The Netherlands.
Guido WidmanAcademic Center for Epileptology, Kempenhaeghe (Maastricht University Medical Center+), Heeze, The Netherlands.
Jan BeckervordersandforthDepartment of Pathology, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Sylvia KlinkenbergAcademic Center for Epileptology, Kempenhaeghe (Maastricht University Medical Center+), Heeze, The Netherlands.
Rob P W RouhlMental Health and Neuroscience Research Institute (MHeNs), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Daniel DelevDepartment of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.
Hans ClusmannDepartment of Neurosurgery, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany.
Stefan WolkingDepartment of Epileptology and Neurology, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1460-6623
Yvonne WeberDepartment of Epileptology and Neurology, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0806-5592
Laurien K Dhaenens-MeyerDepartment of Epileptology and Neurology, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany.
Elisabeth SchriewerDepartment of Epileptology and Neurology, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany.
Alfred MeursDepartment of Epileptology and Neurology, UZ Ghent, Ghent, Belgium.
Katrien JansenDepartment of Epileptology and Neurology, UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Tom TheysDepartment of Neurosurgery, UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Wim van PaesschenDepartment of Epileptology and Neurology, UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Dirk van RoostDepartment of Neurosurgery, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
Walter H BackesMental Health and Neuroscience Research Institute (MHeNs), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Albert J ColonAcademic Center for Epileptology, Kempenhaeghe (Maastricht University Medical Center+), Heeze, The Netherlands.
Olaf E M G SchijnsDepartment of Neurosurgery, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
ACE Epilepsy Surgery group

Funding

Epilepsiefonds 2020-09
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveResective epilepsy surgery is an evidence-based treatment option for patients with focal drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). Seizure outcome after surgery is largely dependent on detection and delineation of an epileptogenic lesion on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, detection fails in 30% of patients at 3 Tesla (T) MRI, thereby limiting surgical options. Diagnostic and therapeutic gain of ultra-high-field MRI in patients with 3T MRI-negative DRE is evaluated in the EpiUltraStudy. Here we report the diagnostic gain of structural 7T MRI.

methodsInclusion criteria were age ≥12 years and DRE with a suspected epileptogenic focus and negative conventional 3T MRI during pre-surgical workup. Images were evaluated independently by two neuroradiologists and a neurologist or neurosurgeon in two runs: blinded (Run 1) and with the results of additional clinical investigations (Run 2).

resultsSixty patients underwent 7T MRI. No persistent adverse events were reported. Visual assessment of 7T MRI identified lesions in 9 cases (15%), undetected on prior 3T MRI. Possible positive scan rates increased from 17% (10/60) in the blinded run to 47% (28/60) in the informed run. However, after consensus review, many of these were reclassified as negative. Eight of nine positive 7T MRI scans were initially identified by only one or two assessors. After reassessment, a total of 56% (5/9) of 7T lesions were retrospectively identified on 3T. SIGNIFICANCE: Our data suggest a benefit of 7T MRI for the detection of subtle epileptogenic lesions in patients with DRE and negative 3T MRI. Although the detection rate may appear modest compared to other reports, we present a nuanced discussion of our methodology and patient population, contributing meaningful context to the current literature. The availability of multimodal information and consensus reviews enhanced diagnostic accuracy but with higher rates of false positives, underscoring the importance of multidisciplinary cooperation in the clinical care for patients with DRE. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: www.trialregister.nl: NTR7536.

Indexed as

BrainDrug Resistant EpilepsyEpilepsies, PartialMagnetic Resonance ImagingAdolescentAdultFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesYoung Adult7Tepilepsyepilepsy surgeryepileptogenic lesion UHF MRI

Identifiers

PMID41105436
PMCPMC12927696

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.