Changes in the corpus callosum during the recovery of aphasia: A case report

RATIONALE: The corpus callosum, which is the most important fiber pathway linking the bilateral hemispheres, plays a key role in information access, as well as the functional coordination and reorganization between the bilateral hemispheres. However, whether the corpus callosum will undergo structural changes during the recovery of aphasia is still unclear. In the current study, a Chinese aphasic patient with stroke was reported to develop changes in the corpus callosum after speech therapy. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 33-year-old right-handed male patient had aphasia only without limb paralysis at 14 months after stroke. DIAGNOSES: Neuroimaging evaluation confirmed a diagnosis of cerebral infarction in the left frontal lobe, insula and basal ganglia. INTERVENTIONS: He underwent 5-month speech therapy and received language function evaluation and DTI examination before and after speech therapy. OUTCOMES: The result ABC showed that the language functions in the patient, including spontaneous speech, auditory comprehension, repetition and naming, were improved after the speech therapy. In addition, results of follow-up DTT suggested that the fiber pathway between the splenium of corpus callosum and the left superior temporal gyrus (Wernicke's area) had been established. At the same time, fiber connections between the genu of corpus callosum and the right inferior frontal gyrus (the mirror region of Broca's area) were increased. LESSONS: The fibrous structure between the corpus callosum and cortical language areas may be reconstructed during the recovery of aphasia. In addition, and the corpus callosum may play an important role in the occurrence and recovery of aphasia after stroke.