Imaging language pathways predicts postoperative naming deficits.
Naming difficulties are a well recognised, but difficult to predict, complication of anterior temporal lobe resection (ATLR) for refractory epilepsy. We used MR tractography preoperatively to demonstrate the structural connectivity of language areas in patients undergoing dominant hemisphere ATLR. Greater lateralisation of tracts to the dominant hemisphere was associated with greater decline in naming function. We suggest that this method has the potential to predict language deficits in patients undergoing ATLR.
Powell
H W R
HW
Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, Institute of Neurology, University College London WC1N 3BG, UK.
Parker
G J M
GJ
Alexander
D C
DC
Symms
M R
MR
Boulby
P A
PA
Barker
G J
GJ
Thompson
P J
PJ
Koepp
M J
MJ
Duncan
John S
JS
D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D038481:Anterior Temporal Lobectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000473:pathology; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D007806:Language Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male