Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41251771›Full record

ArticleNeuroradiology2026

Local brain volume reductions in patients with non-lesional epilepsy on 7T MRI.

Johannes Schwarzer, Eya Khadhraoui, Eric Einspänner, Olga Kukhlenko, Daniel Behme, Lars Büntjen, Friedhelm C Schmitt, Sebastian Johannes Müller

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Neuroradiology, 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

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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

8 authors.

Johannes SchwarzerClinic for Neuroradiology, Otto-Von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
Eya KhadhraouiClinic for Neuroradiology, Otto-Von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
Eric EinspännerClinic for Neuroradiology, Otto-Von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
Olga KukhlenkoClinic for Neurology, Otto-Von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
Daniel BehmeClinic for Neuroradiology, Otto-Von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
Lars BüntjenClinic for Neurosurgery, Otto-Von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
Friedhelm C SchmittClinic for Neurology, Otto-Von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
Sebastian Johannes MüllerClinic for Neuroradiology, Otto-Von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany. sebastian.mueller@med.ovgu.de.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveIn patients with non-lesional epilepsy, MR imaging detects no structural or functional abnormalities. The aim of this study was to determine whether subtle local reductions or increases in brain volume, undetectable to the human eye, can indicate an epileptic focus directly or indirectly. To address this, we performed brain volumetry using 7T MRI.

methodsWe evaluated 7T MRI in patients with non-lesional epilepsy as part of a retrospective study and a healthy control cohort from another prospective study. FastSurfer segmentations were performed using T1 MPRAGE. Additionally, we also performed volumetry of the hippocampal subfields, the thalamic nuclei and the brainstem. We created a control group matched for age and gender distribution.

results7T segmentation as described above was possible in 14 patients with epilepsy and 27 participants of a control cohort. We detected a significant volume loss in the ipsilateral central lateral nucleus of thalamus, as well as a significant increase in the presubiculum body and the ipsilateral and contralateral entorhinal and medial orbitofrontal cortices.

conclusionHigh-resolution 7T MRI-based volumetric analysis in patients with non-lesional epilepsy revealed significant atrophy in brain regions commonly implicated in epileptogenesis. These structures exhibited strong sensitivity and specificity, highlighting the potential of volumetry as a diagnostic tool in the absence of visible lesions. Validation in larger, independent cohorts is required to confirm these findings and assess clinical applicability.

Indexed as

BrainEpilepsyMagnetic Resonance ImagingAdolescentAdultAtrophyCase-Control StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedOrgan SizeRetrospective StudiesSensitivity and SpecificityEpilepsyFastSurferFreeSurferHippocampal regionNon-lesional epilepsy

Identifiers

PMID41251771
PMCPMC13323624

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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.