Drug-resistant EpilepsyEPIMEEGNCT03893916
MEG Versus EEG HR for the Localization of the Epileptogenic Zone as Part of the Pre-surgical Assessment of Epilepsy
A study testing MEG - EEG HR in people with Drug-resistant Epilepsy and Candidates for Surgical Treatment, run by Hospices Civils de Lyon at 1 site in France.
Trial summary
Drug-resistant partial epilepsies are disabling diseases for which surgical treatment may be indicated. The determination of the area to be operated (or 'epileptogenic zone') is based on a bundle of clinical arguments and neuroimaging, having a direct impact on surgical success. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 60 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Drug-resistant Epilepsy, Candidates for Surgical Treatment, Epilepsy
- What is being tested?
- MEG - EEG HR
- Type of treatment
- Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 100 participants
- Where
- 1 siteFrance
- Study dates
- 25 Oct 2019to 25 Apr 2029
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 60 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- patients with partial epilepsy for at least 2 years and for whom are decided and planned: either i) a surgical procedure to resect the epileptogenic zone without prior intracranial EEG recording either ii) an intracranial EEG record needed before a possible cortectomy procedure
- Routine scalp EEG revealing known paroxysmal interictal abnormalities (at least 5 points on a 20-minute plot performed less than 2 years before inclusion in the study)
- Patient giving written consent
Who cannot join
- patient aged over 60 or under 18
- patients with contraindications to brain MRI and MEG
- women of childbearing age for whom a urine pregnancy test performed during the first visit would detect a pregnancy
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
France1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Hospices Civils de Lyon
Bron, 69500
Julien JUNG, MD
Julien JUNG, MD
About this study
Drug-resistant partial epilepsies are disabling diseases for which surgical treatment may be indicated. The determination of the area to be operated (or 'epileptogenic zone') is based on a bundle of clinical arguments and neuroimaging, having a direct impact on surgical success.
Epileptic patients have electrical abnormalities that can be detected with surface electrophysiological examinations such as surface EEG or MagnetoEncephalography (MEG). The intracerebral source of these abnormalities can be localized in the brain using source modeling techniques from MEG signals or EEG signals if a sufficient number of electrodes is used (> 100, so-called high EEG technique Resolution = EEG HR). EEG HR and MEG are two infrequent state-of-the-art techniques.
Read more
The independent contribution of EEG HR and MEG for the localization of the epileptogenic zone has been shown in several studies. However, several modeling studies have shown that MEG and EEG HR have a different detection capacity and spatial resolution depending on the cortical generators studied. Modeling studies suggest that MEG has better localization accuracy than EEG for most cortical sources.
No direct comparison of the locating value of MEG and EEG HR for the localization of the epileptogenic zone has been performed to date in a large-scale clinical study.
In this prospective study, 100 patients with partial epilepsy who are candidates for epilepsy surgery, and for some of them with intracranial EEG recording, will benefit from two advanced electrophysiological examinations including magnetoencephalographic recording (MEG). ) interictal electrophysiological abnormalities and high-resolution EEG recording (128 electrodes) in addition to the usual examinations performed as part of the pre-surgical assessment, prior to cortectomy and / or intracranial EEG recording.
Based on recent work conducted in humans, we postulate:
- that the MEG and the EEG HR make it possible to precisely determine the epileptogenic zone, by using two approaches of definition of the epileptogenic zone (zone operated in the cured patients, zone at the origin of the crises during the intracranial recordings), but that the MEG is a little more precise than the EEG HR for the determination of the epileptogenic zone (we will try to highlight a difference of about 10%)
- that the quantitative study of the complementarity between EEG HR and MEG for modeling sources of epileptic spikes will show an added value in the use of both methods compared to the use of only one of the two methods
- that it is possible to determine the epileptogenic zone by determining the MEG model zone having the highest centrality value (hub) within the intercritical network by studying networks using graph theory.
- Being tested
- MEG - EEG HR
- Medical subject headings
- Drug Resistant Epilepsy, Epilepsy
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
MEG - EEG HRProcedure or surgery
MEG : Magnetoencephalography is the study of the magnetic fields produced by the electrical activity of the brain.
MEG signals are obtained while the patient is placed in a device specific to this technique. The latter comprises a recording chamber, recording sensors which are placed in a cryostat and an electronic measuring system. The magnetic fields are measured while the subject is placed in a shielded magnetic chamber protecting it from variations in the ambient magnetic field (displacement of metal masses, sector ...).
EEG HR: High Resolution EEG is defined as the recording of cerebral electrical activity with 128 electroencephalographic electrodes and with high temporal resolution usually followed by the use of source localization tools. The HR EEG is therefore derived from standard EEG techniques, but requires a higher number of electrodes and the use of source localization tools.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| cohort | Experimental | MEG - EEG HR Receives: Procedure: MEG - EEG HR |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Proportion of patients for whom there will be a spatial congruence between the operated area and the area modeled in EEG HR and MEG, among the population of patients operated and cured
We will consider that it is congruent when the most likely source model will be located in the resected focus determined by the postoperative MRI. The clinical outcome of the patients will be assessed 1 year after the intervention according to the Engel classification. Patients with an Engel Grade 1 score will be considered cured.
Measured: Month 12 after Surgery
Secondary outcomes (4)
To compare the ability of EEG HR and MEG to localize the epileptogenic zone by considering the epileptogenic zone as the brain area involved in the beginning of the crisis in patients requiring intracranial EEG recording
Proportion of patients for whom there will be a spatial congruence between the epileptogenic zone defined by intracranial EEG recording and the modeled zone in EEG HR and MEG, among the population of operated and cured patients. The clinical outcome of the patients will be assessed 1 year after the intervention according to the Engel classification. Patients with an Engel Grade 1 score will be considered cured.
Measured: Month 12 after Surgery
To evaluate the spatial congruence between the zones modeled by the MEG and the EEG HR and the resected brain zone in the group of the patients not cured
Proportion of patients for whom there will be a spatial congruence between the operated area and the modeled area in EEG HR and MEG in the group of operated and unhealed patients.
Measured: Month 12 after Surgery
Study the complementarity of EEG HR and MEG for the localization of the epileptogenic zone
proportion of patients for whom there will be a spatial congruence between the operated area and the modeled area GET HR with a priori MEG and without bias MEG and the proportion of patients for whom there will be a spatial congruence between the operated area and the zone modeled in MEG with a priori EEG HR and without a priori EEG HR, among the population of patients operated and cured.
Measured: Month 12 after Surgery
To study the localization value of MEG intercritical network analysis for the detection of the epileptogenic zone via graph theory
Proportion of patients for whom there will be a spatial congruence between the operated area and the MEG model zone having the highest centrality value (hub) within the interictal network, among the population of patients operated and cured
Measured: Month 12 after Surgery
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted28 Mar 2019
- Study start25 Oct 2019
- Primary completion25 Apr 2029 (estimated)
- Study completion25 Apr 2029 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Drug-resistant EpilepsyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Hospices Civils de LyonThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Hospices Civils de Lyon
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Julien JUNG, Dr, Study chair, Hospices Civils de Lyon
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03893916
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 69HCL18_0134
- Other IDs
- 2018-A02452-53
- Acronym
- EPIMEEG
- Status last verified
- Jan 2026
- First submitted
- 21 Mar 2019
- Last updated
- 15 Jan 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 15 Jan 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- MEG Versus EEG HR for the Localization of the Epileptogenic Zone as Part of the Pre-surgical Assessment of Epilepsy
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03893916
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- EPIMEEG / 69HCL18_0134
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Hospices Civils de LyonUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 25 Oct 2019 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 25 Apr 2029 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 25 Apr 2029 (estimated)
- First posted
- 28 Mar 2019 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Drug-resistant partial epilepsies are disabling diseases for which surgical treatment may be indicated. The determination of the area to be operated (or 'epileptogenic zone') is based on a bundle of clinical arguments and neuroimaging, having a direct impact on surgical success.
Epileptic patients have electrical abnormalities that can be detected with surface electrophysiological examinations such as surface EEG or MagnetoEncephalography (MEG). The intracerebral source of these abnormalities can be localized in the brain using source modeling techniques from MEG signals or EEG signals if a sufficient number of electrodes is used (> 100, so-called high EEG technique Resolution = EEG HR). EEG HR and MEG are two infrequent state-of-the-art techniques.
The independent contribution of EEG HR and MEG for the localization of the epileptogenic zone has been shown in several studies. However, several modeling studies have shown that MEG and EEG HR have a different detection capacity and spatial resolution depending on the cortical generators studied. Modeling studies suggest that MEG has better localization accuracy than EEG for most cortical sources.
No direct comparison of the locating value of MEG and EEG HR for the localization of the epileptogenic zone has been performed to date in a large-scale clinical study.
In this prospective study, 100 patients with partial epilepsy who are candidates for epilepsy surgery, and for some of them with intracranial EEG recording, will benefit from two advanced electrophysiological examinations including magnetoencephalographic recording (MEG). ) interictal electrophysiological abnormalities and high-resolution EEG recording (128 electrodes) in addition to the usual examinations performed as part of the pre-surgical assessment, prior to cortectomy and / or intracranial EEG recording.
Based on recent work conducted in humans, we postulate:
- that the MEG and the EEG HR make it possible to precisely determine the epileptogenic zone, by using two approaches of definition of the epileptogenic zone (zone operated in the cured patients, zone at the origin of the crises during the intracranial recordings), but that the MEG is a little more precise than the EEG HR for the determination of the epileptogenic zone (we will try to highlight a difference of about 10%)
- that the quantitative study of the complementarity between EEG HR and MEG for modeling sources of epileptic spikes will show an added value in the use of both methods compared to the use of only one of the two methods
- that it is possible to determine the epileptogenic zone by determining the MEG model zone having the highest centrality value (hub) within the intercritical network by studying networks using graph theory.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| cohort | Experimental | Procedure: MEG - EEG HRMEG - EEG HR |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 60 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- patients with partial epilepsy for at least 2 years and for whom are decided and planned: either i) a surgical procedure to resect the epileptogenic zone without prior intracranial EEG recording either ii) an intracranial EEG record needed before a possible cortectomy procedure
- Routine scalp EEG revealing known paroxysmal interictal abnormalities (at least 5 points on a 20-minute plot performed less than 2 years before inclusion in the study)
- Patient giving written consent
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- patient aged over 60 or under 18
- patients with contraindications to brain MRI and MEG
- women of childbearing age for whom a urine pregnancy test performed during the first visit would detect a pregnancy
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| MEG - EEG HRMEG : Magnetoencephalography is the study of the magnetic fields produced by the electrical activity of the brain. MEG signals are obtained while the patient is placed in a device specific to this technique. The latter comprises a recording chamber, recording sensors which are placed in a cryostat and an electronic measuring system. The magnetic fields are measured while the subject is placed in a shielded magnetic chamber protecting it from variations in the ambient magnetic field (displacement of metal masses, sector ...). EEG HR: High Resolution EEG is defined as the recording of cerebral electrical activity with 128 electroencephalographic electrodes and with high temporal resolution usually followed by the use of source localization tools. The HR EEG is therefore derived from standard EEG techniques, but requires a higher number of electrodes and the use of source localization tools. | Procedure or surgery | cohort |
Primary outcome
Proportion of patients for whom there will be a spatial congruence between the operated area and the area modeled in EEG HR and MEG, among the population of patients operated and cured
Time frame: Month 12 after Surgery
We will consider that it is congruent when the most likely source model will be located in the resected focus determined by the postoperative MRI. The clinical outcome of the patients will be assessed 1 year after the intervention according to the Engel classification. Patients with an Engel Grade 1 score will be considered cured.
4 secondary outcomes
To compare the ability of EEG HR and MEG to localize the epileptogenic zone by considering the epileptogenic zone as the brain area involved in the beginning of the crisis in patients requiring intracranial EEG recording
Time frame: Month 12 after Surgery
To evaluate the spatial congruence between the zones modeled by the MEG and the EEG HR and the resected brain zone in the group of the patients not cured
Time frame: Month 12 after Surgery
Study the complementarity of EEG HR and MEG for the localization of the epileptogenic zone
Time frame: Month 12 after Surgery
To study the localization value of MEG intercritical network analysis for the detection of the epileptogenic zone via graph theory
Time frame: Month 12 after Surgery
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 15 Jan 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Julien JUNG, Dr study chair
Hospices Civils de Lyon
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing MEG - EEG HR in people with Drug-resistant Epilepsy and Candidates for Surgical Treatment, run by Hospices Civils de Lyon at 1 site in France.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 15 Jan 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in France. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Julien JUNG, Dr (04 72 35 79 00, julien.jung@chu-lyon.fr), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Proportion of patients for whom there will be a spatial congruence between the operated area and the area modeled in EEG HR and MEG, among the population of patients operated and cured (time frame: Month 12 after Surgery). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 15 Jan 2026.