Book contents
- How to Read an EEG
- Reviews
- How to Read an EEG
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figure Contributions
- Foreword to the First Edition
- Preface
- How to Read This Book
- Part I Basics
- Part II Interpretation
- Chapter 7 Approach to EEG Reading
- Chapter 8 Describing Abnormalities
- Chapter 9 Artifacts
- Chapter 10 Normal Variants
- Chapter 11 Sporadic Abnormalities
- Chapter 12 Repetitive Abnormalities
- Chapter 13 Ictal Patterns (Electrographic Seizures)
- Chapter 14 Activation Procedures
- Part III Specific Conditions
- Appendix: How to Write a Report
- Index
- References
Chapter 7 - Approach to EEG Reading
from Part II - Interpretation
Published online by Cambridge University Press: aN Invalid Date NaN
Book contents
- How to Read an EEG
- Reviews
- How to Read an EEG
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figure Contributions
- Foreword to the First Edition
- Preface
- How to Read This Book
- Part I Basics
- Part II Interpretation
- Chapter 7 Approach to EEG Reading
- Chapter 8 Describing Abnormalities
- Chapter 9 Artifacts
- Chapter 10 Normal Variants
- Chapter 11 Sporadic Abnormalities
- Chapter 12 Repetitive Abnormalities
- Chapter 13 Ictal Patterns (Electrographic Seizures)
- Chapter 14 Activation Procedures
- Part III Specific Conditions
- Appendix: How to Write a Report
- Index
- References
Summary
This chapter is the central hub or core of the book. It contains a suggested step-by-step approach to EEG reading in a systematic way. This involves first confirming the patient’s age, physiological state(s), and the presence of a skull defect (if any) and reviewing the technical parameters of the study including filters, sensitivity, time base, calibration, and montage. Describe the background based on symmetry, continuity, voltage, organization, and reactivity. Next, categorize foreground features (waveforms of interest) as artifact or (cerebral activity). Then describe them based on localization, occurrence, and morphology. Cerebral activity may be normal (variants) or abnormal; if abnormal it may be epileptiform, and if epileptiform, it may represent an interictal or ictal pattern. Note the responses to activation procedures such as hyperventilation and photic stimulation and the presence and effect of drowsiness and sleep. Finally, do not forget to look at the single EKG channel at the bottom. Always mentally correlate your findings to the patient’s clinical presentation and indication for the test before you proceed to writing the report. [174 words/990 characters]
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- How to Read an EEG , pp. 69 - 75Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2025
References
Cobb, WA, Guiloff, RJ, Cast, J. Breach rhythm: the EEG related to skull defects. Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology. 1979 Sep 1;47(3):251–71.10.1016/0013-4694(79)90278-5CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Otsubo, H, Steinlin, M, Hwang, PA, et al. Positive epileptiform discharges in children with neuronal migration disorders. Pediatric Neurology. 1997 Jan 1;16(1):23–31.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.Google Scholar
Hirsch, LJ, LaRoche, SM, Gaspard, N, et al. American Clinical Neurophysiology Society’s standardized critical care EEG terminology: 2012 version. Journal of Clinical Neurophysiology. 2013;30(1):1–27.10.1097/WNP.0b013e3182784729CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
American Electroencephalographic Society Ad Hoc Guidelines Committee. Minimum technical requirements for performing clinical electroencephalography. Journal of Clinical Neurophysiology. 1994;11:2–5.10.1097/00004691-199401000-00002CrossRefGoogle Scholar
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