Correlation between focal lesion sites and language deficits in the acute phase of post-stroke aphasia

Introduction
Focal lesion sites can predict the language function of patients with aphasia during the subacute or chronic phases. However, the relationship between focal lesion sites and language deficits in the acute phase remains unclear. Therefore, our study aimed to investigate the relationship between focal lesion sites and fluency, auditory comprehension, repetition and naming deficits in patients with acute aphasia to further understand the pathophysiological mechanism of aphasia.

Material and methods
We included a total of 52 patients with acute aphasia who had their first-ever stroke between June 2018 and June 2021 to investigate the association between focal lesion sites and fluency, auditory comprehension, repetition and naming deficits. Language function was assessed by the Western Aphasia Battery scale within one month of onset. The lesion sites were independently assessed by three professional speech and language pathologists according to the main sulcus of the brain within 1-2 days after stroke.

Results
Lesions involving the superior temporal gyrus, middle frontal gyrus, inferior frontal gyrus, precentral gyrus, postcentral gyrus, supramarginal gyrus, angular gyrus and insula were significantly associated with low fluency. Lesions involving the superior temporal gyrus, middle temporal gyrus, inferior temporal gyrus, middle frontal gyrus, inferior frontal gyrus, supramarginal gyrus and angular gyrus significantly resulted in auditory comprehension impairment. Lesions involving the superior temporal gyrus, middle temporal gyrus, middle frontal gyrus, inferior frontal gyrus, precentral gyrus, postcentral gyrus, supramarginal gyrus, angular gyrus and insula significantly resulted in repetition and naming deficits.

Conclusions
Our study suggests that focal lesion sites could lead to different language function impairments in the acute phase of post-stroke aphasia, which adds to our understanding of speech pathology and provides a direction for future research and treatment.