fNIRS-VFT is a complementary tool to 18F-FDG PET in presurgical evaluation of drug-resistant epilepsy: an exploratory study

Background

Accurate presurgical localization of the epileptogenic zone (EZ) and preservation of postoperative cognitive function are two critical but often competing goals in epilepsy surgery for drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). This study aimed to (1) evaluate the complementary value of functional near-infrared spectroscopy during a verbal fluency task (fNIRS-VFT) alongside interictal 18F-FDG PET for presurgical EZ localization; and (2) explore whether task-based fNIRS functional connectivity is associated with postoperative verbal memory decline.