Decreasing distance from tumor to the language network causes language deficit

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Neurosurgery
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Preoperative language deficits in glioma patients correlate with language network changes.
• Understanding how gliomas impact language networks is crucial for patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between glioma location, language network topology, and preoperative language performance.
• To identify the mediating role of tumor proximity to the language network (SDTN) in language alterations.

Main Methods:

• Evaluated preoperative language using the Western Aphasia Battery in 90 lower-grade glioma patients.
• Assessed resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging to calculate language network topological properties.
• Classified patients into aphasia, mild anomia, and normal groups based on Aphasia Quotient (AQ).

Main Results:

• The aphasia group exhibited longer shortest path length and lower vulnerability compared to the mild anomia group.
• Specific brain regions (BA 45, BA 22, BA 41/42) showed weaker nodal efficiencies in the aphasia group.
• Shortest distance to the language network (SDTN) mediated nodal degree centrality and vulnerability, negatively impacting Aphasia Quotients.

Conclusions:

• Gliomas induce alterations in language networks, involving both eloquent and mirrored areas.
• The SDTN is a significant mediator affecting preoperative language status in glioma patients.
• Network topology changes provide insights into language deficits associated with gliomas.