Modern electroencephalography: its role in epilepsy management

Epilepsy is the area in which electroencephalography is probably of greatest potential clinical value, and yet is most abused. In general, the sensitivity of the waking interictal EEG for detecting epilepsy and its specificity for distinguishing epilepsy from other episodic disorders are both very limited, and routine examination for diagnostic screening or follow up is of little value. However, as this review attempts to demonstrate, EEG is of crucial importance for answering specific, clearly defined questions which commonly arise in the management of seizure disorders, especially so, when non-routine and if necessary complex investigations are undertaken, to address the problems of individual patients.