Language recovery after epilepsy surgery of the Broca's area

Epilepsy surgery is indicated in select patients with medically refractory focal epilepsy. Seizure freedom or significant reduction of seizure burden without risking new neurological deficits is the expected goal of epilepsy surgery. Typically, when the seizure onset zone overlaps with eloquent cortex, patients are excluded from the surgery. We present a patient with medically refractory frontal lobe epilepsy who underwent successful surgery with resection of the Broca’s area, primarily involving the pars triangularis (BA 45). We document transient expressive aphasia followed by recovery of speech. This case provides new insights into the plasticity of the language network. AC C EP TE D M AN U SC R IP T ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT Mnatsakanyan 2