Epilepsy, as a common neurological disorder in childhood, requires early diagnosis and intervention that are crucial for improving disease prognosis. Although traditional techniques such as electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) have made progress in pediatric epilepsy diagnosis and treatment, significant limitations remain in imaging-negative cases and in identifying deep lesions. Magnetoencephalography (MEG), a non-invasive neurophysiological technique with both high temporal and spatial resolution, has recently demonstrated unique advantages in localizing epileptogenic zones, analyzing functional connectivity, and identifying brain functional areas in children with epilepsy. In particular, the next-generation MEG systems based on optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs) have significantly broadened its applicability in pediatric populations. Nonetheless, practical use of OPM-MEG remains hindered by challenges such as non-standardized signal processing workflows, lack of agreement on dependable electrophysiological biomarkers, and the relatively high cost of devices. In the future, with continuous advances in multimodal integration, wearable device incorporation, and AI-assisted analysis, MEG is expected to achieve broader application in pediatric epilepsy diagnosis and treatment.
