A new tool developed by Johns Hopkins University could reduce epilepsy misdiagnoses by up to 70%, transforming routine EEG tests into highly accurate epilepsy predictors. The tool, EpiScalp, uncovers hidden epilepsy signatures in seemingly normal EEGs, addressing the challenge of false positives that occur in about 30% of cases globally.
Epilepsy, which causes recurrent seizures, is often diagnosed through EEGs, but these tests can be difficult to interpret, especially when seizures do not occur during the test. EpiScalp overcomes this by using advanced algorithms to analyze brainwave patterns, identifying markers of epilepsy even in normal EEGs. This breakthrough could significantly reduce misdiagnoses, spare patients from unnecessary medications, and speed up accurate diagnosis and treatment.
In a study involving 198 patients, EpiScalp reduced false positives from 54% to 17%, showing its potential to transform epilepsy diagnosis. This tool is especially valuable in identifying patients who might otherwise be misdiagnosed with epilepsy and treated with anti-seizure medications, which can lead to unnecessary side effects.
The team behind EpiScalp is conducting further research to validate the tool’s effectiveness and has filed a patent for the technology. This innovation could dramatically improve the accuracy and speed of epilepsy diagnosis, offering hope for better outcomes and a more tailored approach to treatment. While the initial results are promising, the tool has not yet been fully validated and is still in the process of being refined and tested.
Article written by Roberto Molar
22/01/2025
Source:
Medical Xpress
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-01-tool-epilepsy-misdiagnoses-routine-eegs.html