Aims: We aimed to clarify the relationship between alterations in functional networks and glioma-related epilepsy (GRE) in patients with different molecular diagnoses.
Methods: We enrolled 160 patients with prefrontal gliomas and different histories of GRE. The patients were grouped based on the latest pathological glioma classification and GRE history. Graph theory analysis was applied to reveal alterations in the sensorimotor networks among various subgroups. Binary logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for preoperative GRE onset.
Results: Decreasing shortest path length was found in patients with GRE, regardless of the chromosome 1p/19q status. Nodes located in the premotor and supplementary motor areas showed decreased nodal betweenness centrality and vulnerability in patients with GRE and chromosome 1p/19q intact. Additionally, the node on the primary motor area showed decreased nodal vulnerability but the node on the sensory-related thalamus increased in patients with GRE and chromosome 1p/19q co-deletion. Decreased shortest path length, grade 2, and decreased nodal betweenness centrality of the premotor area were risk factors for GRE.
Conclusion: Decreased shortest path length was a characteristic alteration in GRE and prefrontal glioma. Alterations in global properties were similar, but nodal properties were different in patients with GRE and different chromosome 1p/19q statuses.
Keywords: epilepsy; glioma; magnetic resonance imaging; neural networks.
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