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Increased activity of the ipsilateral motor cortex during a hand motor task in patients with brain tumor and paresis
T Yoshiura1, K Hasuo, F Mihara
1Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Purpose:
To look for changes in the motor cortex in patients with brain tumors.
Methods:
Both cerebral hemispheres in seven patients with brain tumors were examined with functional MR imaging during a motor task performed by the hand opposite the site of tumor. The ratio of the activated area in the motor cortex ipsilateral/contralateral to the tested hand was calculated for each subject. Twenty healthy subjects were also examined in the same manner for comparison.
Results:
The ratio of the ipsilateral/contralateral activated area was abnormally high in three patients with tumor-related paresis of the tested hand. The ratio was significantly greater in patients with paresis than in healthy subjects.
Conclusion:
This study demonstrated increased activity in the ipsilateral (unaffected) motor area during a hand motor task in patients with brain tumor and paresis, which was thought to reflect compensatory reorganization induced by the functional damage.