Language lateralization by Wada test and fMRI in 100 patients with epilepsy.

Comparing the determination of language dominance using fMRI with results of the Wada test in 100 patients with different localization-related epilepsies, the authors found 91% concordance between both tests. The overall rate of false categorization by fMRI was 9%, ranging from 3% in left-sided temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) to 25% in left-sided extratemporal epilepsy. Language fMRI might reduce the necessity of the Wada test for language lateralization, especially in TLE.