How is epilepsy diagnosed?

    Last Updated: October 25, 2023

    Seizures are usually first suspected based on the patient’s or family member’s self-reports and medical history. A healthcare provider must perform a full clinical assessment to rule out other potential causes of seizures as well as other medical conditions that present as seizures.[1][2] Diagnostic tests which measure electrical activity in the brain, such as electroencephalography (EEG), are commonly used to diagnose epilepsy; other tests, such as computed tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), may be used to detect structural abnormalities that can contribute to seizures (e.g., tumors).[3][2]

    References

    1. ^Fisher RS, Acevedo C, Arzimanoglou A, Bogacz A, Cross JH, Elger CE, Engel J, Forsgren L, French JA, Glynn M, Hesdorffer DC, Lee BI, Mathern GW, Moshé SL, Perucca E, Scheffer IE, Tomson T, Watanabe M, Wiebe SILAE official report: a practical clinical definition of epilepsy.Epilepsia.(2014-Apr)
    2. ^Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on the Public Health Dimensions of the EpilepsiesrEpilepsy Across the Spectrum: Promoting Health and Understanding
    3. ^Devinsky O, Vezzani A, O'Brien TJ, Jette N, Scheffer IE, de Curtis M, Perucca PEpilepsy.Nat Rev Dis Primers.(2018-May-03)