White matter tracts contribute selectively to cognitive functioning in patients with glioma

Frontiers in Oncology

Oncology

Matthew C. Tate¹  Melissa-Ann Mackie²  David Aaby³  Mia Andreoli³ 

[1] Department of Neurological Surgery and Neurology, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL, United States;Department of Neuropsychology, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL, United States;Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States;

关键词: glioma;    white matter tracts;    diffusion tensor imaging;    fractional anisotropy;    cognitive function;    neuropsychology;    surgical planning;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fonc.2023.1221753

 received in 2023-05-12, accepted in 2023-10-03,  发布年份 2023

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

ObjectiveThe functional organization of white matter (WM) tracts is not well characterized, especially in patients with intrinsic brain tumors where complex patterns of tissue injury, compression, and neuroplasticity may be present. This study uses diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to investigate the relationships between WM tract disruption and cognitive deficits in glioma patients.MethodsSeventy-nine patients with glioma underwent preoperative DTI and neuropsychological testing. Thirteen WM tracts were reconstructed bilaterally. Fractional anisotropy and streamline number were obtained for each tract as indices of connectivity. Univariate regression models were used to model the association between WM tract connectivity and neuropsychological outcomes.ResultsGlioma patients exhibited variable injury to WM tracts and variable cognitive deficits on validated neuropsychological tests. We identified 16 age-adjusted associations between WM tract integrity and neuropsychological function. The left inferior frontal-occipital fasciculus (IFOF) predicted list learning and dominant-hand fine motor dexterity. The right IFOF predicted non-dominant-hand fine motor dexterity and visuospatial index scores. The left inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF) predicted immediate memory list learning and index scores. The right ILF predicted non-dominant-hand fine motor dexterity and backward digit span scores. The left superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) I predicted processing speed. The left SLF III predicted list learning, immediate memory index scores, phonemic fluency, and verbal abstract reasoning. The left cingulum predicted processing speed. The right anterior AF predicted verbal abstract reasoning.ConclusionWM tract disruption predicts cognitive dysfunction in glioma patients. By improving knowledge of WM tract organization, this analysis may guide maximum surgical resection and functional preservation in glioma patients.

【 授权许可】

Unknown   
Copyright © 2023 Andreoli, Mackie, Aaby and Tate