Atlas of Cross-Sectional Imaging of Non-Convulsive Status Epilepticus

Considering the high prevalence of non-convulsive Status epilepticus (NCSE) in emergency admissions of patients with altered mental state and the high proportion of cross-sectional imaging performed in this patient cohort, imaging marker suggesting an epileptic origin of the clinical symptoms and – even more critical – indicating ongoing seizure activity would potentially modify therapeutic decisions and patients outcome. In this article we review the cross-sectional imaging techniques to identify pathophysiological processes related to epileptic activity. We discuss the diagnostic potential of brain perfusion imaging to detect hemodynamic correlates of epileptic activity and structural imaging to identify the sequelae of prolonged epileptic activity e.g. cytotoxic/vasogenic edema, gliosis and brain atrophy. In the atlas part, we aim to include a number of cases of NCSE with representative imaging findings and discuss the correlation of the findings with the clinical semiology and epilepsy syndrome.