Cortical mapping by functional magnetic resonance imaging in patients with brain tumors

The aim of our study was to establish the effectiveness of the functional MRI (fMRI) technique in comparison with intraoperative cortical stimulation (ICS) in planning cortex-saving neurosurgical interventions. The combination of sensory and motor stimulation during fMRI experiments was used to improve the exactness of central sulcus localization. The study subjects were 30 volunteers and 33 patients with brain tumors in the rolandic area. Detailed topographical relations of activated areas in fMRI and intraoperative techniques were compared. The agreement in the location defined by the two methods for motor centers was found to be 84%; for sensory centers it was 83%. When both kinds of activation are taken into account this agreement increases to 98%. A significant relation was found between fMRI and ICS for the agreement of the distance both for motor and sensory centers (p=0.0021–0.0024). Also a strong dependence was found between the agreement of the location and the agreement of the distance for both kinds of stimulation. The spatial correlation between fMRI and ICS methods for the sensorimotor cortex is very high. fMRI combining functional and structural information is very helpful for preoperative neurosurgical planning. The sensitivity of the fMRI technique in brain mapping increases when using both motor and sensory paradigms in the same patient.     

3T高场强功能MRI在脑功能区胶质瘤皮质电刺激手术中的应用

目的研究应用3T高场强功能MRI（fMRI）定位脑运动功能区，及在脑胶质瘤直接皮质电刺激手术中的指导作用。方法26例邻近或累及脑运动功能区的胶质瘤患者术前采用双手握拳刺激策略，根据血氧水平依赖（BOLD）原理进行功能成像。经工作站提供的BOLD功能图像分析软件包进行分析，获得脑运动功能区的激活图像，制定手术方案。所有患者均在唤醒麻醉下进行显微外科手术，在术前fMRI指导下利用直接皮质电刺激定位运动区。在保护脑功能不受损的前提下，最大程度地切除胶质瘤。术前、术后均行Karnofsky生活状态（KPS）评分，判断患者的状态。结果26例术前BOLD运动fMRI有23例获得良好的手运动脑功能区激活图像。患者在唤醒麻醉下，在术前fMRI指导下利用直接皮质电刺激快捷、准确定位初级运动皮质区，并且两者具有良好的一致性。同时术前fMRI提供术中未检测到的脑功能区的信息，相互补充。术前KPS评分80．0～90．0分患者21例（平均85．7分）术后恢复至平均95．2分，术前KPS评分40．0～70．0分患者5例（平均68．0分）术后恢复至平均90．0分。结论术前fMRI可活体和无创地描绘出脑运动功能区与肿瘤的功能解剖位置关系，优化手术方案，在唤醒麻醉下指导直接皮质电刺激定位运动区的手术，实现最大程度保护脑功能，并最大程度地切除肿瘤。     

Restored activation of primary motor area from motor reorganization and improved motor function after brain tumor resection

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Reorganization of brain function may result in preservation of motor function in patients with brain tumors. The goal of the present study was to investigate whether function of the primary motor area (M1) was restored and whether motor function improved after brain tumor resection. METHODS: Five patients with metastatic brain tumors located within or near M1 underwent awake surgery with intraoperative cortical mapping and continuous task monitoring. Preoperative and postoperative functional MR imaging (fMRI) was performed during hand clenching, and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was performed in 1 case to further characterize the area activated in fMRI. RESULTS: Preoperative fMRI performed during hand clenching demonstrated reorganization of motor function. In patients with severe paresis (cases 3, 4, and 5), clenching of the affected hand induced a large blood oxygen level-dependent response in the right hemisphere, mainly in the anterior temporal lobe, despite the location site of the tumor. Postoperative fMRI during hand clenching demonstrated activation of the contralateral M1. Furthermore, in case 5, DTI detected tracts, possibly the inferior longitudinal fasciculus, arising from anterior temporal activated area as well as tracts connecting the premotor and M1 activated area. This patient demonstrated mirror movement of the hand during the course of motor function recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Tumor resection resulted in restoration of M1 function and improved motor function in patients with preoperative reorganization of M1 function. Furthermore, the preoperative reorganization of motor function in cases with severe paresis may be related to changes in the right hemisphere, including the temporal lobe.     

Real-Time Motor Cortex Mapping for the Safe Resection of Glioma: An Intraoperative Resting-State fMRI Study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:Resting-state functional MR imaging has been used for motor mapping in presurgical planning but never used intraoperatively. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of applying intraoperative resting-state functional MR imaging for the safe resection of gliomas using real-time motor cortex mapping during an operation.MATERIALS AND METHODS:Using interventional MR imaging, we conducted preoperative and intraoperative resting-state intrinsic functional connectivity analyses of the motor cortex in 30 patients with brain tumors. Factors that may influence intraoperative imaging quality, including anesthesia type (general or awake anesthesia) and tumor cavity (filled with normal saline or not), were studied to investigate image quality. Additionally, direct cortical stimulation was used to validate the accuracy of intraoperative resting-state fMRI in mapping the motor cortex.RESULTS:Preoperative and intraoperative resting-state fMRI scans were acquired for all patients. Fourteen patients who successfully completed both sufficient intraoperative resting-state fMRI and direct cortical stimulation were used for further analysis of sensitivity and specificity. Compared with those subjected to direct cortical stimulation, the sensitivity and specificity of intraoperative resting-state fMRI in localizing the motor area were 61.7% and 93.7%, respectively. The image quality of intraoperative resting-state fMRI was better when the tumor cavity was filled with normal saline (P = .049). However, no significant difference between the anesthesia types was observed (P = .102).CONCLUSIONS:This study demonstrates the feasibility of using intraoperative resting-state fMRI for real-time localization of functional areas during a neurologic operation. The findings suggest that using intraoperative resting-state fMRI can avoid the risk of intraoperative seizures due to direct cortical stimulation and may provide neurosurgeons with valuable information to facilitate the safe resection of gliomas.

Mapping the motor cortex before and during tumor resection is of great importance to minimize the risks of postoperative neurologic sequelae. Direct cortical stimulation (DCS) is an invasive procedure to locate the function of specific brain regions. Due to its simplicity, DCS is considered the clinical criterion standard for mapping brain function and has demonstrated efficacy in optimizing glioma resection.^1,2 However, as an invasive approach, DCS requires a surgical team with rich experience. DCS also has the risk of after discharges, which can induce seizures and result in the inaccurate localization of cortical areas.³Blood oxygen level–dependent (BOLD) functional MR imaging, a task-based brain functional mapping method, has been well-established for localizing the brain functional area for presurgical planning. BOLD fMRI is of great importance in helping decrease morbidity due to a neurologic operation⁴ and has been integrated into neuronavigation systems to localize the motor area during an operation.⁵ Nonetheless, brain shifting during an operation might reduce the accuracy of preoperative imaging and affect the clinical consequences.⁶The emergence of intraoperative MR imaging (iMRI) has ushered in a new era in brain tumor neurosurgery.⁷ Real-time structural imaging and diffusion tensor imaging have provided neurosurgeons with valuable information regarding whether and where tumor residues persist after resection and even the relationship between the tumor/tumor cavity and peritumoral tracts.^8,9 The use of an iMRI navigation system can reliably compensate for the effects of brain shifting.⁶ We have recently reported intraoperative motor mapping with fMRI for the first time; in this procedure, awake intraoperative fMRI was used to localize the sensorimotor areas during awake craniotomy.¹⁰ Cooperation of the patient under specific tasks and complicated surgical procedures is essential for successful mapping. Therefore, task-induced brain mapping cannot be achieved with the patient under general anesthesia.Resting-state fMRI (R-fMRI) has recently been used to identify the motor cortex without a task stimulus.¹¹ This technique has been used in preoperative motor mapping in patients with brain tumors.^12–14 Our previous study demonstrated the accuracy of preoperative R-fMRI (pR-fMRI) for motor area localization by DCS before tumor resection.¹³ However, the study was based on pR-fMRI and lacked real-time information regarding the relationship between the tumor cavity/residual and the motor cortex, which might have affected the conclusion of whether further resection is safe.To our knowledge, functional connectivity based on intraoperative resting-state fMRI (iR-fMRI) has not been applied to real-time motor cortex mapping during an operation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility and validity of applying iR-fMRI to neurosurgical mapping. The sensitivity and specificity of iR-fMRI in mapping the motor cortex were assessed and compared with those of DCS. The optimum iR-fMRI protocol for better intraoperative imaging quality was also studied.     

Mapa cortical y subcortical del lenguaje. Correlación de la resonancia magnética funcional y tractografía en 3 T con la estimulación intraoperatoria cortical y subcortical en tumores cerebrales localizados en áreas elocuentes

ObjectiveTo describe the detection of cortical areas and subcortical pathways involved in language observed in MRI activation studies and tractography in a 3 T MRI scanner and to correlate the findings of these functional studies with direct intraoperative cortical and subcortical stimulation.Material and methodsWe present a series of 14 patients with focal brain tumors adjacent to eloquent brain areas. All patients underwent neuropsychological evaluation before and after surgery. All patients underwent MRI examination including structural sequences, perfusion imaging, spectroscopy, functional imaging to determine activation of motor and language areas, and 3D tractography. All patients underwent cortical mapping through cortical and subcortical stimulation during the operation to resect the tumor. Postoperative follow-up studies were done 24 hours after surgery.ResultsThe correlation of motor function and of the corticospinal tract determined by functional MRI and tractography with intraoperative mapping of cortical and subcortical motor areas was complete. The eloquent brain areas of language expression and reception were strongly correlated with intraoperative cortical mapping in all but two cases (a high grade infiltrating glioma and a low grade glioma located in the frontal lobe). 3D tractography identified the arcuate fasciculus, the lateral part of the superior longitudinal fasciculus, the subcallosal fasciculus, the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, and the optic radiations, which made it possible to mark the limits of the resection. The correlation with the subcortical mapping of the anatomic arrangement of the fasciculi with respect to the lesions was complete.ConclusionThe best treatment for brain tumors is maximum resection without associated deficits, so high quality functional studies are necessary for preoperative planning.     

Comparison of functional MR imaging guidance to electrical cortical mapping for targeting selective motor cortex areas in neuropathic pain: a study based on intraoperative stereotactic navigation

PURPOSE: To assess the concordance between data from functional MR imaging (fMRI) guidance and the intraoperative electrical cortical mapping (iCM) in targeting selective motor cortex areas in refractory neuropathic pain. METHODS: Twenty-one patients (11 women and 10 men; mean age, 55.6 years) with refractory central (ischemic, 8 cases) and neuropathic pain (trigeminal neuropathy, 6 cases; syrinx/amputation/plexus trauma, 7 cases) underwent surgery for the implantation of an epidural electrode for chronic motor cortex stimulation (MCS) with general anesthesia and a frameless neuronavigation system used for the image-guided targeting procedure. All patients were studied by preoperative fMRI and epidural iCM with somatosensory evoked potentials and motor cortex stimulodetection. fMRI investigated systematically motor tasks of both hands and that related to the somatic area (foot or tongue) affected by pain. fMRI data were analyzed with the Statistical Parametric Mapping99 software (initial analysis threshold [AT] corresponding to P < .001), registered in the neuronavigation system and correlated intraoperatively with iCM. Matching of fMRI and iCM was specifically examined, focusing the study on hand mapping. RESULTS: Concordance between contours of fMRI activation area and iCM in precentral gyrus (mean distance, 3.8 mm) was found in 20/21 patients (95%). Because precision of iCM was suboptimal in 7 patients, concordance for more restrictive values of the AT (P < .0001) was found in only 13 of these 20 patients. Concordance was not found in one patient, as result of image distortion and residual motion artifact. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, fMRI guidance provides information that matches those of an independent functional method. These data illustrate the functional accuracy of fMRI guidance for the operative targeting of selective motor cortex areas in neuropathic pain.     

健康成人及脑肿瘤患者利手和非利手简单与复杂运动fMRI研究

目的:应用脑血氧水平依赖性功能MRI(BOLD-f MRI)研究健康成年人及脑肿瘤患者运动功能皮层定位并探讨其对脑肿瘤的临床应用价值。方法:10例健康志愿者和32例脑肿瘤患者(术前25例,术后7例)共42例受试者,行利手、非利手的单手握拳(简单运动)或单手对指(复杂运动)运动的脑BOLD-f MRI检查,分析脑肿瘤对运动皮层位置和功能的影响。结果:健康成人运动皮层主要位于对侧躯体感觉运动皮层(SMC),单或双侧辅助运动区(SMA)、运动前区(PMA)和双侧小脑半球。复杂运动或非利手运动时脑功能激活区范围和程度较简单运动或利手运动时增多。累及功能皮层的脑肿瘤患者,可见患侧部分脑功能区激活,但激活区移位、分布弥散。术后脑肿瘤患者功能皮层的位置基本恢复正常。结论:BOLD-f MRI是一种有效而无创的脑功能皮层定位方法,有利于脑肿瘤的精确定位诊断并指导临床治疗。     

Somatomotor fMRI in the pre-surgical evaluation of a case of focal epilepsy.

A child with intractable partial epilepsy who was found to have a focal lesion in the motor cortex underwent detailed pre-surgical and intraoperative investigations which enabled curative surgery without morbidity by minimizing a targeted resection. The pre-surgical assessment included mapping motor cortical function with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). This was subsequently correlated with the results of pre-surgical and intraoperative invasive corticography.     

The effect of prior surgery on blood oxygen level-dependent functional MR imaging in the preoperative assessment of brain tumors

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Blood oxygen level-dependent functional MR imaging (BOLD fMRI) is a clinically useful technique for preoperative mapping of eloquent cortices in patients with brain tumors. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect on BOLD fMRI accuracy of susceptibility artifacts caused by prior surgery by comparing volumes of activation in the primary motor cortex (PMC) of patients with and without prior brain surgery. METHODS: The volumes of fMRI activation of the PMC were measured for the tumor and nontumor sides in patients with (n = 13) and without (n = 30) prior neurosurgery. Statistical comparisons of the volumes were performed by using paired t tests and linear regression analysis. The location and degree of susceptibility artifact were subjectively assessed. RESULTS: No significant difference was found between the mean tumor and nontumor volumes of fMRI activations in patients without prior surgery (P = .51). In patients who had prior surgery, the volume of activation was significantly smaller on the side of the prior operation when compared with the contralateral side (P = .001). The volume of activation on the side of the tumor was also significantly smaller in the patients with prior surgery compared with those without prior surgery (P < .001). Nevertheless, the PMC was identified in all cases, and its location was confirmed intraoperatively. CONCLUSION: Prior surgery is associated with a decrease in the volume of fMRI activation in patients with prior surgery; however, by examining the T2 images, an astute radiologist can recognize this phenomenon, draw the appropriate conclusions, and correctly identify the PMC.     

BOLD技术与皮质电刺激定位语言功能区的比较

目的:将语言BOLD与术中皮质电刺激作点对点比较,评价其对语言功能区定位的准确性.材料和方法:12例左侧大脑半球近语言功能区手术病例术前采用词语联想任务进行BOLD扫描,融合在导航序列上进行神经导航手术.在局麻下进行术中皮质电刺激,与导航影像对应,采用完全吻合或相邻1cm以内两种不同的标准来比较BOLD激活区与电刺激阳性区的关系.结果:12例病人共刺激了145个点,其中阳性点27个.与ESM比较,以完全重叠为标准,BOLD敏感性48.1%,特异性83.1%;以相距小于1cm为标准,BOLD敏感性88.9%,特异性75%.良性或低级别肿瘤(9例)BOLD敏感性(95.2%)特异性(80.4%)均高于高级别恶性肿瘤(3例)(敏感性66.7%,特异性68.6%).结论:词语联想任务的BOLD-fMRI与ESM结果有较好的吻合,显示出一定的临床应用价值.     

Functional MRI in human motor control studies and clinical applications.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has been a useful tool for the noninvasive mapping of brain function associated with various motor and cognitive tasks. Because fMRI is based on the blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) effect, it does not directly record neural activity. With the fMRI technique, distinguishing BOLD signals created by cortical projection neurons from those created by intracortical neurons appears to be difficult. Two major experimental designs are used in fMRI studies: block designs and event-related designs. Block-designed fMRI presupposes the steady state of regional cerebral blood flow and has been applied to examinations of brain activation caused by tasks requiring sustained or repetitive movements. By contrast, the more recently developed event-related fMRI with time resolution of a few seconds allows the mapping of brain activation associated with a single movement according to the transient aspects of the hemodynamic response. Increasing evidence suggests that multiple motor areas are engaged in a networked manner to execute various motor acts. In order to understand functional brain maps, it is important that one understands sequential and parallel organizations of anatomical connections between multiple motor areas. In fMRI studies of complex motor tasks, elementary parameters such as movement length, force, velocity, acceleration and frequency should be controlled, because inconsistency in those parameters may alter the extent and intensity of motor cortical activation, confounding interpretation of the findings obtained. In addition to initiation of movements, termination of movements plays an important role in the successful achievement of complex movements. Brain areas exclusively related to the termination of movements have been, for the first time, uncovered with an event-related fMRI technique. We propose the application of fMRI to the elucidation of the pathophysiology of movement disorders, particularly dystonia, which exhibits involuntary co-contraction of agonist and antagonist muscles and manifests abnormal posture or slow repetition of movements.     

Intraoperative,real-time,functional MRI

Functional MRI (fMRI) methods have been demonstrated to noninvasively identify motor-sensory, visual, and other areas of eloquent cortex for guiding surgical intervention. Typically, fMRI data are acquired preoperatively during a conventional surgical planning MRI examination. Unlike direct cortical stimulation at the time of surgery, however, preoperative fMRI methods do not account for the potential movement of tissues (relative to the time of functional imaging) that may occur in the surgical suite as a direct result of the intervention. Recently, an MRI device has been demonstrated for use in the surgical suite that has the potential to reduce the extent of cortical exposure required for the intervention. However, the invasive requirements of cortical mapping may supersede the invasive requirements of the surgical intervention itself. Consequently, we demonstrate here a modification to the intraoperative MRI device that facilitates a noninvasive, real-time, functional MR examination in the surgical suite.     

Language and memory lateralization and localization using different fMRI paradigms in Arabic speaking patients: Initial experience

Purpose

Presurgical assessment of memory in patients with temporal lesions is essential to evaluate the effect of treatment on cognitive functioning (1). In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in the utility of functional MR imaging (fMRI) for presurgical evaluation of memory (2). There is no established fMRI protocol to evaluate memory functions presurgically (3). The identification of language areas in patients undergoing brain surgery is a major clinical challenge, the gold standard for the identification of essential language areas in neurosurgical patients is intraoperative mapping (IOM) by direct cortical stimulation as used by various groups but other techniques, such as functional imaging, are rapidly evolving (4). Language and also memory paradigms designed for patients speaking languages other than Arabic are not totally applicable for examining Arabic speaking and illiterate patients except after some modifications, the aim of this study is to test the applicability of these modified western designed paradigms for lateralization and localization of cortical brain centres concerned with language and memory in Arabic speaking patients.

Materials and methods

Using a 1.5 T Philips scanner, multiple modified western designed language and memory fMRI paradigms were used to assess the eloquent cortical brain areas in Arabic speaking patients of different levels of education having different lesions mainly brain tumors and epilepsy. These modifications consist mainly of providing simpler paradigms in an easy common Arabic language not in high level traditional Arabic, choosing simplified topics for the less educated patients, avoiding any written paradigms and depending on auditory paradigms in easy common Arabic language and simple pictures for illiterate patients. Images were analyzed using Philips extended MR work space release 2.5.3.0. The results were analyzed and compared to each other as regarding the patient cooperation and the ability to give robust fMRI signal.

Results

Multiple fMRI paradigms are efficient in lateralization and localization of cortical centres of language and memory yet they are variable in their ability to give robust fMRI signal clusters, also patients with different levels of education and culture differ in their ability to cooperate with the fMRI paradigms thus also affects the results.

Conclusion

Language and memory fMRI paradigms reported in the western literature are applicable to Arabic speaking patients with brain lesions undergoing an fMRI exam for language and/or memory but need some modifications according to background and level of education to get more robust identification of eloquent language and memory cortical centres.     

Seizure disorders: functional MR imaging for diagnostic evaluation and surgical treatment--prospective study

PURPOSE: To prospectively evaluate effect of functional magnetic resonance (MR) imaging on diagnostic work-up and treatment planning in patients with seizure disorders who are candidates for surgical treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Institutional review board approval was obtained; informed consent was obtained either from the patient or the parent or guardian in all patients. This study was conducted with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act compliance. Sixty consecutively enrolled patients (33 males, 27 females; mean age, 15.8 years +/- 8.7 [standard deviation]; range, 6.8-44.2 years) were prospectively examined. Forty-five (75%) patients were right handed, nine (15%) were left handed, and six (10%) had indeterminate hand dominance. Prospective questionnaires were used to evaluate diagnostic work-up, counseling, and treatment plans of the seizure team before and after functional MR imaging. Confidence level scales were used to determine effect of functional MR imaging on diagnostic and therapeutic thinking. Paired t test and 95% confidence interval analyses were performed. RESULTS: In 53 patients, language mapping was performed; in 33, motor mapping; and in seven, visual mapping. The study revealed change in anatomic location or lateralization of language-receptive (Wernicke) (28% of patients) and language-expressive (Broca) (21% of patients) areas. Statistically significant increases were found in confidence levels after functional MR imaging in regard to motor and visual cortical function evaluation. In 35 (58%) of 60 patients, the seizure team thought that functional MR imaging results altered patient and family counseling. In 38 (63%) of 60 patients, functional MR imaging results helped to avoid further studies, including Wada test. In 31 (52%) and 25 (42%) of 60 patients, intraoperative mapping and surgical plans, respectively, were altered because of functional MR imaging results. In five (8%) patients, two-stage surgery with extra-operative direct electrical stimulation mapping was averted, and resection was accomplished in one stage. In four (7%) patients, extent of surgical resection was altered because eloquent areas were identified close to seizure focus. CONCLUSION: Functional MR imaging results influenced diagnostic and therapeutic decision making of the seizure team; results indicated language dominance changed, confidence level in identification of critical brain function areas increased, patient and family counseling were altered, and intraoperative mapping and surgical approach were altered.     

灰质异位的功能磁共振成像研究(附3例报告)

目的:对灰质异位进行运动功能的功能磁共振成像研究,探讨异位灰质的神经生理功能及功能磁共振成像在神经外科中的作用。方法:采用功能磁共振成像技术对3例拟行手术治疗的灰质异位且伴癫痫症状的患者进行对指运动任务下的脑区反应观察。结果:2例顶叶灰质异位患者在对侧手指运动时异位灰质内出现明显的反应信号,否定外科手术治疗计划。1例额叶的灰质异位患者异位灰质内未出现反应。结论:异位的灰质可以具有运动中枢功能,对于靠近主要功能中枢的灰质异位患者在手术计划的拟定时要考虑异位灰质是否具有功能。功能磁共振成像可以用于评价灰质异位的神经生理,有助于治疗方法的选择。     

健侧顶叶皮层参与卒中急性期脑功能重组:fMRI研究

目的利用功能性磁共振成像(fMRI)技术探讨缺血性卒中急性期的脑功能重组特点。资料与方法采用被动单指运动任务,对4例急性皮质下梗死患者和4名正常人进行fMRI研究,比较正常人与卒中患者之问以及每个卒中患者之问fMRI结果的异同。结果正常人被动单指运动激活对侧感觉运动皮层(SMC)、后顶叶皮层(PPC)和双侧辅助运动区(SMA)。卒中患者健手运动fMRI结果基本同正常人;患手运动时,除1例同(健)侧SMC、SMA、前运动皮层(PMC)激活外,4例均呈现出同侧PPC的激活。结论首次应用fMRI技术采用恒定的被动刺激探讨卒中急性期患者运动恢复的神经机制,结果显示了正常人和脑卒中患者之间fMRI结果的显著差异,反映了卒中急性期脑功能的重组情况,也为卒中急性期健侧半球PPC中介运动恢复提供了新的实验依据。     

fMRI for preoperative neurosurgical mapping of motor cortex and language in a clinical setting

PURPOSE: Identification of the precentral gyrus can be difficult in patients with brain tumors. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of functional MRI (fMRI) in identifying motor cortex and speech areas as a part of preoperative neurosurgical planning. METHOD: fMRI was performed using a 1.5 T MR unit in 41 patients with brain tumors. The motor paradigm was finger tapping and foot movement, whereas the language paradigm consisted of a two word semantic test. Statistical analysis of the data was done using the Kolmogorow-Smirnow test. Plots of signal intensities over time were created. RESULTS: The precentral gyrus was identified in 38 of 41 patients. In two patients, fMRI was not of acceptable quality due to motion artifacts. Speech areas were localized in 33 patients. In a typical clinical setting, the value of the method was graded "high." CONCLUSION: fMRI's efficacy in the preoperative localization of language and motor areas is high. The method should become a routine adjunct for preoperative evaluation of brain tumors in the near future.     

Preoperative mapping of cortical motor function: prospective comparison of functional magnetic resonance imaging and [15O]-H2O-positron emission tomography in the same co-ordinate system

BACKGROUND: Two of the most widely accepted approaches to map eloquent cortical areas preoperatively are positron emission tomography (PET) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). As yet, no study has compared these two modalities within the same frame of reference in tumour patients. AIM: We employed [15O]-H2O-PET and fMRI in patients undergoing presurgical evaluation and compared the results with those obtained by direct electrical cortical stimulation (DECS). METHODS: Twenty-five patients with tumours of different aetiology near the central region were investigated. fMRI and PET were processed using the same methods, i.e. statistical parametric mapping (SPM) without anatomical normalization, and transformed into the same frame of reference. RESULTS: fMRI activity was found in more cranial and lateral sections, i.e. closer to the brain surface, in comparison with PET, which demonstrated parenchymal activation. The mean localization difference between fMRI and PET was 8.1 +/- 4.6 mm (range, 2-18 mm). fMRI and [15O]-H2O-PET could reliably identify the central sulcus, as demonstrated by DECS. CONCLUSIONS: fMRI and [15O]-H2O-PET demonstrate comparable results and are sensitive and reliable tools to map the central region, especially in cases of infiltrating brain tumours. However, fMRI is more prone to artefacts, such as the visualization of draining veins, which may explain the more cranial and lateral activation visualized by fMRI, whereas PET depicts capillary perfusion changes and therefore shows activation closer to the parenchyma.     

Presurgical Assessment of the Sensorimotor Cortex Using Resting-State fMRI

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:The functional characterization of the motor cortex is an important issue in the presurgical evaluation of brain lesions. fMRI noninvasively identifies motor areas while patients are asked to move different body parts. This task-based approach has some drawbacks in clinical settings: long scanning times and exclusion of patients with severe functional or neurologic disabilities and children. Resting-state fMRI can avoid these difficulties because patients do not perform any goal-directed tasks.MATERIALS AND METHODS:Nineteen patients with diverse brain pathologies were prospectively evaluated by using task-based and resting-state fMRI to localize sensorimotor function. Independent component analyses were performed to generate spatial independent components reflecting functional brain networks or noise. Three radiologists identified the motor components and 3 portions of the motor cortex corresponding to the hand, foot, and face representations. Selected motor independent components were compared with task-based fMRI activation maps resulting from movements of the corresponding body parts.RESULTS:The motor cortex was successfully and consistently identified by using resting-state fMRI by the 3 radiologists for all patients. When they subdivided the motor cortex into 3 segments, the sensitivities of resting-state and task-based fMRI were comparable. Moreover, we report a good spatial correspondence with the task-based fMRI activity estimates.CONCLUSIONS:Resting-state fMRI can reliably image sensorimotor function in a clinical preoperative routine. It is a promising opportunity for presurgical localization of sensorimotor function and has the potential to benefit a large number of patients affected by a wide range of pathologies.

Mapping of cerebral function in neurosurgery patients aims to predict the efficacy of the neurosurgical treatment, estimate the operation risk, and avoid neurologic deficits. Several techniques have been used to identify brain activity in tissue surrounding the regions planned for resection, including neuronavitaged transcranial magnetic stimulation,¹ magnetoencephalography,² and fMRI,³ each having advantages and drawbacks over the others.The clinical criterion standard for localization of functional brain areas is intraoperative electrical stimulation in the awake patient.⁴ Although electrical stimulation provides unique assistance during surgery, it is an invasive technique that requires expertise of the surgical team and a cooperative and motivated subject. It also adds considerable time to the surgical procedure for an investigation limited to a few cortical areas. Therefore, fMRI has been seen as very promising for clinical applications. However, its integration into preoperative surgical planning has been relatively slow because of several practical constraints: the dedicated experimental setup, long scanning time, and a high cognitive demand on the patient. Moreover, localizing the sensorimotor cortex with fMRI at the individual level can be challenging in some cases when the patient has paresis or paralysis. Furthermore, >1 acquisition is necessary whenever the lesion is bordering on several motor representations.Techniques measuring functional connectivity can address several of the limitations faced by stimulus-driven or task-based fMRI (tb-fMRI). Resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI) uses slow, spontaneous fluctuations in the blood oxygen level–dependent signal to characterize networks of distant brain regions.⁵ The subject simply “rests” in the scanner without any specific task to perform. rs-fMRI has been successfully applied in groups of healthy volunteers,⁶ provides a means of mapping several functional networks in a single acquisition, appears robust across individuals,⁷ and is less-demanding than tb-fMRI because it requires less cooperation from the patient and can be used in individuals with neurologic deficits or cognitive dysfunction or in children. Additionally, spontaneous activity continues in the primary sensory and motor cortices even when subjects are asleep⁸ or anesthetized.⁹ This feature suggests that complete patient compliance may not be necessary. Resting-state networks have been extensively explored in recent years at the group level in populations of healthy subjects and patients. In the case of neurosurgery patients with brain damage,¹⁰ precise functional network estimation at the individual level is essential for surgery planning and/or intraoperative navigation. The conclusions of previous pioneering studies were limited to the feasibility of rs-fMRI for presurgical mapping by using small patient samples.^11–15In this study, we investigated the sensitivity of extracting the sensorimotor network from rs-fMRI at the individual level in patients with brain damage scheduled for surgery. Because brain lesions can appear at any segment of the motor cortex, we divided our investigations into 3 portions of the somatotypy (foot, hand, and face). rs-fMRI was then compared with tb-fMRI acquired when corresponding body parts were moved.     

脑梗死患者手运动功能区fMRI研究

目的 对不同时期脑梗死所致偏瘫患者采用主动手运动任务模式进行功能磁共振成像(functional magnetic resonance imaging,fMRI),研究运动功能区损伤及恢复特点,以指导临床康复治疗.资料与方法 脑梗死所致偏瘫患者40例.累及基底节区25例,皮层区15例.其中急性期15例,亚急性期9例,慢性期16例.采用组块设计进行单手拇指与余4指同步对指运动,所有患者均进行健侧和患侧手的主动运动实验.采用SPM 99软件进行预处理和统计分析.结果 (1)急性期梗死灶累及皮层区组,健侧半球初级感觉运动区(SMC)激活强度及范围明显大于患侧半球.皮层区组患侧半球SMC激活强度及范围均小于基底节区组;(2)梗死灶累及基底节区组,健侧与患侧半球SMC激活强度及范围于急性期与慢性期间差异无统计学意义;(3)病例的纵向观察:患肢功能恢复较好的患者,患侧和(或)健侧半球SMC的激活强度和(或)范围有不同程度增强,同时激活脑区增多,均可见小脑半球的激活;患肢功能恢复较差的患者,患侧半球SMC的激活强度及范围逐渐减小直至消失.结论 (1)fMRI能准确地判定脑梗死患者脑功能区的损伤程度及有无重组的脑功能区;(2)皮层区梗死患者运动功能受损较为严重,SMC起关键作用,其受累程度直接影响运动功能损伤的等级及恢复程度;(3)脑梗死偏瘫患者在运动功能康复治疗过程中,病变周围及远隔部位可出现功能和结构变化,提示存在脑功能区重组.