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Assessment of hairline EEG as a screening tool for nonconvulsive status epilepticus.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Kolls, BJ; Husain, AM
Published in: Epilepsia
May 2007

PURPOSE: Because of the high incidence of nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE), the attraction of a "quick and easy" screening electroencephalogram (EEG) is obvious. Previous studies have shown utility of hairline EEG in diagnosing epilepsy. However, this technique has not been evaluated as a screening tool for NCSE. We wanted to provide proof of principle that a screening hairline EEG has sufficient sensitivity to use as a screening tool for diagnosing NCSE. METHODS: A total of 120, 2- to 3-min EEG samples of normal and various abnormal digital EEG studies were reformatted in three six-channel montages (A, longitudinal bipolar; B, referential to ipsilateral ear; C, referential to contralateral ear) that mimicked a hairline recording and were interpreted by five neurophysiologists. The test data interpretation was compared with the original EEG interpretation. RESULTS: Performance was best with montages A and B; 71% and 70.5% of the samples were interpreted correctly by using these montages. Only 65% of the samples were correctly interpreted by using montage C. With the best montage (A), the sensitivities ranged from 91% for normal EEG to 54% for periodic lateralized epileptiform discharges (PLEDs). The sensitivity for seizures was only 72%. Seizures were frequently misinterpreted as more benign patterns such as normal and diffuse slowing. CONCLUSIONS: EEG data reformatted to resemble a hairline EEG had low sensitivity for detecting seizures. As a result, we do not recommend further pursuit of hairline EEG as a "quick and easy" screening tool for NCSE.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Epilepsia

DOI

ISSN

0013-9580

Publication Date

May 2007

Volume

48

Issue

5

Start / End Page

959 / 965

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Status Epilepticus
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Scalp
  • Neurophysiology
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Medical Records
  • Mass Screening
  • Humans
  • Functional Laterality
  • Evaluation Studies as Topic
 

Citation

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Kolls, B. J., & Husain, A. M. (2007). Assessment of hairline EEG as a screening tool for nonconvulsive status epilepticus. Epilepsia, 48(5), 959–965. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1528-1167.2007.01078.x
Kolls, Brad J., and Aatif M. Husain. “Assessment of hairline EEG as a screening tool for nonconvulsive status epilepticus.Epilepsia 48, no. 5 (May 2007): 959–65. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1528-1167.2007.01078.x.
Kolls BJ, Husain AM. Assessment of hairline EEG as a screening tool for nonconvulsive status epilepticus. Epilepsia. 2007 May;48(5):959–65.
Kolls, Brad J., and Aatif M. Husain. “Assessment of hairline EEG as a screening tool for nonconvulsive status epilepticus.Epilepsia, vol. 48, no. 5, May 2007, pp. 959–65. Pubmed, doi:10.1111/j.1528-1167.2007.01078.x.
Kolls BJ, Husain AM. Assessment of hairline EEG as a screening tool for nonconvulsive status epilepticus. Epilepsia. 2007 May;48(5):959–965.
Journal cover image

Published In

Epilepsia

DOI

ISSN

0013-9580

Publication Date

May 2007

Volume

48

Issue

5

Start / End Page

959 / 965

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Status Epilepticus
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Scalp
  • Neurophysiology
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Medical Records
  • Mass Screening
  • Humans
  • Functional Laterality
  • Evaluation Studies as Topic