Modifications of default-mode network connectivity in patients with cerebral glioma.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to evaluate connectivity modifications in the Default Mode Network (DMN) in patients with cerebral glioma, and to correlate these modifications to tumor characteristics.


METHODS
Twenty-four patients with a left-hemisphere cerebral tumor (14 grade II and 10 grade IV gliomas) and 14 healthy age-matched right-hand volunteers were enrolled in the study. Subjects underwent fMRI while performing language tasks for presurgical mapping. Data was analyzed with independent component analysis in order to identify the DMN. DMN group maps were produced by random-effect analysis (p<0.001, FDR-corrected). An analysis of variance across the three groups (p<0.05) and post-hoc t-test contrasts between pairs of groups were calculated (p<0.05, FDR-corrected).


RESULTS
All three groups showed typical DMN areas. However, reduced DMN connectivity was detected in tumor patients with respect to controls. A significantly increased and reduced integration of DMN areas was observed in the hippocampal and prefrontal regions, respectively. Modifications were closely related to tumor grading. Moreover, the DMN lateralized to the hemisphere contralateral to tumor in the low-grade, but not in the high-grade tumor patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Modifications of DMN connectivity were induced by gliomas and differed for high and low grade tumors.
Institute for Advanced Biomedical Technologies, G D'Annunzio University Foundation, Chieti, Italy.
Roberto
R
Esposito
Peter A
PA
Mattei
Chiara
C
Briganti
Gian Luca
GL
Romani
Armando
A
Tartaro
Massimo
M
Caulo
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001931:Brain Mapping; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005910:Glioma / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors