BackgroundDiffusion　tensor　imaging　(DTI)　studies　have　demonstrated　white　matter　(WM)　abnormalities　in　patients　with　temporal　lobe　epilepsy　(TLE).　However,　alterations　in　the　topological　properties　of　the　WM　structural　network　in　patients　with　TLE　remain　unclear.　Graph　theoretical　analysis　provides　a　new　perspective　for　evaluating　the　connectivity　of　WM　structural　networks.MethodsDTI　was　used　to　map　the　structural　networks　of　18　patients　with　TLE　(10　males　and　8　females)　and　29　(17　males　and　12　females)　age-　and　gender-matched　normal　controls　(NC).　Graph　theory　was　used　to　analyze　the　whole-brain　networks　and　their　topological　properties　between　the　two　groups.　Finally,　partial　correlation　analyses　were　performed　on　the　weighted　network　properties　and　clinical　characteristics,　namely,　duration　of　epilepsy,　verbal　intelligence　quotient　(IQ),　and　performance　IQ.ResultsPatients　with　TLE　exhibited　reduced　global　efficiency　and　increased　characteristic　path　length.　A　total　of　31　regions　with　nodal　efficiency　alterations　were　detected　in　the　fractional　anisotropy_　weighted　network　of　the　patients.　Communication　hubs,　such　as　the　middle　temporal　gyrus,　right　inferior　temporal　gyrus,　left　calcarine,　and　right　superior　parietal　gyrus,　were　also　differently　distributed　in　the　patients　compared　with　the　NC.　Several　node　regions　showed　close　relationships　with　duration　of　epilepsy,　verbal　IQ,　and　performance　IQ.ConclusionsOur　results　demonstrate　the　disruption　of　the　WM　structural　network　in　TLE　patients.　This　study　may　contribute　to　the　further　understanding　of　the　pathological　mechanism　of　TLE.