Glucose Metabolism on PET Correlates with the Underlying Cortical Oscillations in Pediatric Epilepsy

We recently conducted two studies to determine how well cortical glucose metabolism on interictal glucose metabolism PET was correlated with the underlying cortical oscillations on intracranial electrocorticography in children with focal epilepsy. We found that glucose metabolism was negatively correlated with the amplitude of delta-oscillations as well as the frequency of interictal epileptiform discharges in children with tuberous sclerosis complex. We also found that glucose metabolism was positively correlated with the amplitude of gamma-oscillations in children with nonlesional focal epilepsy. These observations support the hypotheses that gamma oscillations derived from physiological and pathological neuronal activities are associated with increased glucose metabolism, whereas delta slowing is associated with decreased metabolism. Association between frequent interictal spikes and decreased glucose metabolism may be attributed to delta components following spike discharges.