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To describe the yield of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in adults with new-onset seizures, researchers at an adult “first-seizure” clinic in Australia have published a consecutive case series of 993 patients (mean age, 42; age range 14–94). Electroencephalograms (EEGs) were performed in 94% of patients, and MRI was performed in 77%. The final diagnostic classification was epileptic seizure in 72% of patients, nonepileptic event (e.g., syncope) in 18%, and uncertain diagnosis in 10%. The following findings were noted in patients who underwent MRI:
Potentially epileptogenic MRI lesions were noted in 28% of patients who ultimately were diagnosed with epileptic seizures but in only 8% of patients with nonepileptic events. About half of potenti…