

In patients who have brain tumors or other lesions, the MEG may be able to map the exact location of the normally functioning areas near the lesion.Then a decision can be made regarding surgery. An MEG may be able to confirm that the epileptiform discharges (the brain waves typical of epilepsy) are indeed arising from the lesion. It can help when MRI scans show a lesion or spot, but the EEG findings give different information.This can help doctors find the cause of the seizures. It can improve the detection of potential sources of seizures by revealing the exact location of the problem.MEG may be helpful in the following situations: It is usually performed with EEG at the same time. In the evaluation of epilepsy, MEG is used to localize the source of epileptiform brain activity, which most likely is the source of seizures. Areas of the brain that could generate seizures as well as normal electrical activity in the brain can be located more easily. When MEG is added to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (which shows brain structure) the combination of the images is extremely helpful.This makes the MEG more accurate than an EEG in some ways. The test can give more usable and reliable information about the location of brain function. An important difference is that the skull and the tissue surrounding the brain affect the magnetic fields measured by MEG much less than they affect the electrical impulses measured by EEG.To some ways, MEG is similar to EEG (electroencephalography).

MEG generates a remarkably accurate representation of the magnetic fields produced by the neurons. These currents produce small magnetic fields. MEG measures small electrical currents arising inside the neurons of the brain.When it is combined with structural imaging, it is known as magnetic source imaging (MSI). MEG (magnetoencephalography) provides a noninvasive tool to study epilepsy and brain function.
