MRI asymmetries and language dominance.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the relationship between language dominance, as measured by Wada testing, and hemispheric asymmetries on MR brain images.

BACKGROUND

A previous report that did not include verification of language dominance compared the length of the planum temporale with hemispheric asymmetries seen on CT and inferred that occipital lobe asymmetry is related to language dominance.

METHODS

Language dominance was identified by the Wada test in 57 patients evaluated for surgical treatment of epilepsy. Fifty-five had an MRI scan that allowed accurate measurement. In a blinded fashion, two examiners independently measured bilateral frontal, parietal, and occipital lobe lengths on MR scan for each patient. Measurements of asymmetries were compared with language dominance established by the Wada test.

RESULTS

Reliability of measurement between the examiners was 97%. Asymmetry of the occipital lobe length on MR scan 10 mm above the tentorium was the only measurement significantly related to language dominance (p < 0.01). Occipital lobe length was longer on the left in 19 (40%) and on the right in 10 (21%) patients with left dominance. The right lobe was longer in six of seven (86%) patients with bilateral dominance. One patient with right hemisphere dominance had a longer left lobe. None of the measurements significantly related to handedness.

CONCLUSION

Asymmetries of occipital lobe length relate to language dominance, but such dominance cannot be reliably identified by MR in an individual patient.