Congruence and Discrepancy of Interictal and Ictal EEG With MRI Lesions in Pediatric Epilepsies.

Purpose. To evaluate the congruence or discrepancy of the localization of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lesions with interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) or epileptic seizure patterns (ESPs) in surface EEG in lesional pediatric epilepsy patients. Methods. We retrospectively analyzed presurgical MRI and video-EEG monitoring findings of patients up to age 18 years. Localization of MRI lesions were compared with ictal and interictal noninvasive EEG findings of patients with frontal, temporal, parietal, or occipital lesions. Results. A total of 71 patients were included. Localization of ESPs showed better congruence with MRI in patients with frontal lesions (n = 21, 77.5%) than in patients with temporal lesions (n = 24; 40.7%) (P = .009). No significant IED distribution differences between MRI localizations could be found. Conclusions. MRI lesions and EEG findings are rarely fully congruent. Congruence of MRI lesions and ESPs was highest in children with frontal lesions. This is in contrast to adults, in whom temporal lesions showed the highest congruency with the EEG localization of ESP. Lesional pediatric patients should be acknowledged as surgical candidates despite incongruent findings of interictal and ictal surface EEG.

How is Interprofessional Collaboration Applied by Radiation Therapists in the Radiation Therapy Department in British Columbia?

INTRODUCTION: Interprofessional collaboration (IPC) is the process when multiple health workers from different professional backgrounds work together with patients to deliver the highest quality of care. IPC can improve communication and knowledge sharing between collaborating professionals and can lead to an increase in efficient patient care. In the radiation therapy department, radiation oncologists, nurses, medical physicists, and radiation therapists are the key professionals involved in the multidisciplinary care team. METHODS: Although there is ample literature about interprofessional collaboration, very little of it is focused in radiation oncology. Using SurveyMonkey, an online survey was made available to radiation therapists in British Columbia, Canada, for a period of 3 months. In the six British Columbia Cancer Agency centres, champion disseminators assisted in distributing the survey link through e-mail. The questions pertained to the type of IPC, frequency, and modes of collaboration along with radiation therapists' level of satisfaction with collaboration. The number of respondents was 124. RESULTS: The results indicate that the top three professionals who radiation therapists collaborate with are radiation oncologists, nurses, and medical physicists, respectively. The frequency of IPC is mostly one to five times in 5 working days. The preferred method of communication with oncologists and physicists is face-to-face interactions or phone calls. The favoured method of communication with nurses is through tasking. E-mail is the least preferred method. CONCLUSIONS: British Columbia radiation therapists are generally satisfied with IPC. Some suggestions for improvements regarding communication efficiency and respect for others' roles, responsibilities, and professions are made. Overall, results of this study show that IPC generates positive attitudes, teamwork, and a patient-centred model.