Presurgical integrated MRI/SPECT localization of the sensorimotor cortex in a patient with a low-grade astrocytoma in the rolandic area.

We describe the case of a young man who, despite the presence of a tumour in the left sensorimotor cortex, exhibited no motor deficit. Integrated MRI/SPECT-CBF study during motor activation was aimed at determining which cerebral areas were involved in movement execution in this patient and their relationship with the tumour. CBF changes during motor activation were located in two motor areas: anteriorly and medially to the tumour in the left frontal lobe (+29%) and in the right medial frontal cortex (+43%). Integrated MRI/SPECT images provided both an anatomical and functional definition of the motor areas in a patient with a rolandic tumour and could prove useful in determining preoperatively an appropriate surgical strategy.