Brain electrical activity mapping in epilepsies

Brain electrical activity map [BEAM] of 508 cases of epilepsy [both generalized and partial] were studied to demonstrate and compare this method with that of routine EEG for quantification and localization of regions of epileptogenesis. There was a good correlation between BEAM and the EEG in [74%] of cases. The BEAM was less efficient in detecting generalized epilepsy, but it was much better regarding partial abnormalities, even when EEG was normal or nearly so. Overall brain electrical activity maps did appear to offer data which were useful and complimentary to other available test results. Considerable care needs to be taken to identify artifacts and normal EEG variant when interpreting these tests