OBJECTIVE: To explore the geomorphological performance, the characteristics of volume, and the largest signal intension of blood oxygenation level dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD-fMRI) in brain tumors located in or closed to the central area. METHODS: We recruited 13 normal volunteers and 31(13 benign tumors and 18 malignant tumors) patients with brain tumor located in or closed to the central area, to examine both side hand motor and tactile function by BOLD-fMRI and obtained the activation map and its superposition image with T1 imaging, the volume, and the largest signal intension of the functional area by SPM software which manipulated the raw data in the off-line work station. The volume and the largest signal intension data of the functional area were statistically analyzed by SPSS 13.0. RESULTS: The volume and the largest signal intension of the activation map in the normal functional area had hemisphere advantage. There was difference in the activated signal pixel number and the largest signal intension of the functional area between the benign brain tumors, malignant brain tumors, and the normal volunteers (P < 0.05). The shape, anatomic location, the volume, and the largest signal intension of the functional area were changed in the patients with brain tumors. CONCLUSION BOLD-fMRI is a valid method to assess the pre-surgical risk of patients with brain tumors, which can get the volume, the largest signal intension, the basic shape,and the anatomic location of the functional area.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Brain Neoplasms ; blood ; physiopathology ; Female ; Hand ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Motor Cortex ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Oxygen ; blood ; Somatosensory Cortex ; pathology ; physiopathology

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a 3-week somatosensory stimulation program on the integrity of the somatosensory pathway of patients with brain damage. METHOD: The sample consisted of two groups of patients with brain damage matched by Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores and age:8 patients with a mean age of 56.75 years who were treated with somatosensory stimulation, and 8 patients with a mean age of 58.88 years, who were not treated with sensory intervention program. A repeated measures matched-control group design was used to assess functional recovery of the brain. The instrument used in this study was SSEP (somatosensory evoked potentials), a neurophysiological parameter, for the integrity of the somatosensory pathway. RESULTS: The hypothesis that patients with brain damage who were treated with the somatosensory stimulation program will show higher SSEP wave form scores than the non-treatment group was supported (3rd week.: U=13.000, p=.014). Additional repeated measures analysis showed that there were no significant differences in recovery trends between the groups (F=1.945, p=.159). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that a somatosensory stimulation program is effective in promoting recovery of the integrity of the somatosensory pathway of patients with brain damage.
Adult ; Afferent Pathways ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Brain Injuries/physiopathology/*rehabilitation ; *Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Somatosensory Cortex/*physiopathology