Background: Subacute progressive aphasia is often seen with dominant-hemisphere glioblastoma (GBM); however, full functional recovery postresection is not usually seen. Case Description: A 65-year-old right-handed woman with new-onset progressive expressive aphasia underwent near-total resection of a 5.4 cm left frontotemporal mass. By postoperative day 2, her aphasia was fully resolved. Pathology confirmed wildtype, O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT)-unmethylated GBM. At 6 months, she remains neurologically asymptomatic without evidence of aphasia or evidence of recurrence on magnetic resonance imaging. Conclusion: This case suggests that aphasia from tumor-related mass effect and edema can be fully reversible with timely surgical intervention. Continued surveillance and adjuvant therapy have sustained her excellent neurological outcome.
Dalkilic et al. (Fri,) studied this question.