RAPID RESOLUTION FOLLOWING CHEMOTHERAPY OF BROCAS DYSPHASIA DUE TO RECURRENT ANAPLASTIC ASTROCYTOMA

A middle-aged man re-presented with a Broca's aphasia due to a recurre nt fronto-cingulate anaplastic astrocytoma. Although the language dist urbance did not improve with dexamethasone therapy, within 4 weeks of treatment with procarbazine, CCNU and vincristine, the dysphasia had a lmost completely resolved. The anatomico-functional aspects and possib le mechanisms of production and resolution of the aphasia are discusse d. Assessment of dysphasias in patients undergoing intensive therapy f or brain neoplasms is often neglected, but it can provide good objecti ve information about the efficacy of therapy.