Refining computer-assisted SEEG planning with spatial priors – A novel comparison of implantation strategies across adult and paediatric centres

Objectives: Computer-assisted planning (CAP) allows faster SEEG planning and improves grey matter sampling, orthogonal drilling angles to the skull, reduces risk scores and minimises intracerebral electrode length. Incorporating prior SEEG trajectories enhances CAP planning, refining output with centre-specific practices. This study significantly expands on the previous work, compares priors libraries between two centres, and describes differences between SEEG in adults and children in these centres. Methods: 98 adults and 61 children who underwent SEEG implantation as part of epilepsy surgery investigations were included. Priors libraries were created for each population, clustered by target regions and subdivided by cortical approaches. The libraries were coregistered and quantitatively and qualitatively compared. Results: The average number of implanted electrodes per patient was higher in paediatric patients than adults (13.6 vs 8.0). Paediatric implantations focused more on the insula than adult implantations (38.0 % vs 13.5 %), with similar proportions of electrodes implanted in the temporal and parietal lobes, and a higher proportion of adult electrodes in the frontal and orbitofrontal regions (40.6 % vs 24.0 %). Correspondence between the priors libraries was high. We present an example of a complex insular implantation planned with paediatric spatial priors and illustrate resultant SEEG recordings. Discussion: The use of centre-specific spatial priors allows the incorporation of surgeon-specific and unit-specific preferences into automated planning. We compare implantation styles between a paediatric and an adult centre, discussing similarities and differences. This tool allows centres to compare practice and represents an effective way to analyse implantation strategies that is agnostic to method of implantation.