Presurgical evaluation of language using functional magnetic resonance imaging in brain tumor patients with previous surgery Journal Article


Authors: Peck, K. K. ; Bradbury, M.; Petrovich, N.; Hou, B. L.; Ishill, N.; Brennan, C.; Tabar, V.; Holodny, A. I.
Article Title: Presurgical evaluation of language using functional magnetic resonance imaging in brain tumor patients with previous surgery
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is used to assess language laterality in preoperative brain tumor patients. In postsurgical patients, susceptibility artifacts can potentially alter ipsilateral fMRI activation volumes and the assessment of language laterality. The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of fMRI to correctly measure language dominance in brain tumor patients with previous surgery because this patient cohort is vulnerable to type II statistical errors and subsequent misjudgment of laterality. METHODS: Twenty-six right-handed patients with left-hemisphere gliomas (16 with and 10 without previous surgery) underwent preoperative language fMRI. Language laterality was measured using hemispheric and Broca's area regions of interest (ROIs). Hemisphere dominance, as established by laterality measurements, was compared with that determined by intraoperative electrocorticography and behavioral assessments. RESULTS: Localization of primary language cortices was achieved in 24 of 26 patients studied. The hemisphere dominance evaluated by fMRI was verified by intraoperative corticography in only 14 patients (10 with and 4 without previous surgery), and only 12 of them had complete neuropsychological testing. Complete concordance of the laterality with intraoperative electrocorticography and behavioral assessments was found in patients without previous surgery. In patients with previous surgery, concordance was 75% using Broca's area ROI and 88% using hemispheric ROI, notwithstanding susceptibility artifacts. Differences in laterality between pre- and postsurgical patients, based on either hemispheric (P = 0.81) or Broca's area (P = 0.19) ROI measurements were not statistically significant. However, hemispheric ROI analyses were found to be less affected by postsurgical artifacts and may be more suitable for establishing hemisphere dominance. CONCLUSION: fMRI mapping of eloquent language cortices in brain tumor patients after surgery is feasible and can serve as a useful baseline evaluation for preoperative neurosurgical planning. However, findings should be interpreted with caution in the presence of postsurgical artifacts. Copyright © 2009 by the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.
Keywords: adult; clinical article; controlled study; aged; middle aged; postoperative period; cancer patient; outcome assessment; brain tumor; brain neoplasms; magnetic resonance imaging; preoperative evaluation; oxygen; clinical assessment; brain cortex; brain; glioblastoma; neuropsychological test; neuropsychological tests; behavior; artifact; oligodendroglioma; language; functional magnetic resonance imaging; hemispheric dominance; brain mapping; functional laterality; image processing, computer-assisted; language tests; astrocytoma; peroperative care; language laterality; postsurgical artifacts; presurgical planning; anaplastic oligodendroglioma; electrocorticography; electroencephalography
Journal Title: Neurosurgery
Volume: 64
Issue: 4
ISSN: 0148-396X
Publisher: Wolters Kluwer  
Date Published: 2009-04-01
Start Page: 644
End Page: 652
Language: English
DOI: 10.1227/01.neu.0000339122.01957.0a
PUBMED: 19197223
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: --- - "Cited By (since 1996): 2" - "Export Date: 30 November 2010" - "CODEN: NRSRD" - "Source: Scopus"
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MSK Authors
  1. Viviane S Tabar
    225 Tabar
  2. Nicole Brennan
    44 Brennan
  3. Cameron Brennan
    226 Brennan
  4. Bob L Hou
    22 Hou
  5. Kyung Peck
    117 Peck
  6. Andrei Holodny
    207 Holodny
  7. Nicole Marie Leoce
    86 Leoce