Gjm. Rutten et al., Language area localization with three-dimensional functional magnetic resonance imaging matches intrasulcal electrostimulation in Broca's area, ANN NEUROL, 46(3), 1999, pp. 405-408
In this study, intraoperative electrocortical stimulation mapping (ioESM),
the current gold standard for the localization of critical language areas,
is compared with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in a 14-year-
old girl with medically intractable epilepsy caused by a tumor in the regio
n of Broca's area. prior to the operation, four different fMRI tasks that t
arget inferior frontal language areas were applied. Prior to the resection,
ioESM as well as fMRI detected no language areas at the exposed cortical a
rea. After removal of the tumor, a unique opportunity presented itself, whe
re ioESM could be performed in the depth of a now exposed and intact gyrus.
One specific locus that was indicated to be a critical language area by mu
ltiple-task fMRI was targeted. IoESM selectively confirmed the location of
this language area to within an estimated 3 mm. We propose that the combine
d use of different fMRI tasks increases the sensitivity and specificity for
the detection of essential language areas.