Broca’s area intraoperative mapping with cortico-cortical evoked potentials

Objective

Mapping of effective speech connections between the frontal and temporal lobes with cortico-cortical evoked potentials. 

Material and methods

There were 3 patients with brain tumors in the left frontoparietal region. The neoplasms were localized in the dominant hemisphere near cortical speech centers and pathways. Cortico-cortical evoked potentials were intraoperatively recorded in response to bipolar stimulation with a direct current delivered through the subdural electrodes (single rectangular biphasic impulses with duration of 300 μs and frequency of 1 Hz). Stimulation intensity was gradually increased from 2 mA within 3–4 mA. Registration was carried out by averaging ECoG (30—50 stimuli in each session) in the 300-ms epoch after stimulus. Direct cortical stimulation was used to validate the results of cortico-cortical speech mapping with cortico-cortical evoked potentials. 

Results

In our cases, we obtained cortico-cortical evoked potentials from inferior frontal gyrus after stimulation of superior temporal gyrus. In one case, this effective relationship was unidirectional, in the other two patients reciprocal. Mean latency of N1 peak was 65 ms (range 49.6—90 ms), mean amplitude 71 µV (range 50—100 µV). Cortico-cortical mapping data were confirmed by detection of Broca’s area in 2 out of 3 cases out during direct cortical stimulation with maximum amplitude of N1 wave. «Awake craniotomy» protocol was applied. In one case, Broca’s area was not detected during direct stimulation. No postoperative speech impairment was noted. 

Conclusion

Initial results of cortical mapping with cortico-cortical evoked potentials in a small sample confirmed its practical significance for analysis of cortical projections of effective speech communications between the frontal and temporal lobes. Further study of this method in large samples is required.