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Query: UMLS:C0004134 (ataxia)
 15,886 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The underlying mechanism of visual agnosia and optic aphasia has not been fully elucidated, although a number of hypotheses have been proposed. Besides, the difference between these two conditions has been a matter of debate. We report here the result of neuropsychological evaluation in a case of associative visual agnosia evolving to optic aphasia. A 64-year-old right-handed patient was found to be disoriented and confused after undergoing the operation of gastrectomy. CT scan revealed a large infarction in the territory of left posterior cerebral artery. Since 3 weeks after onset, neuropsychological investigations were carried out during 5 months. He was alert and co-operative. Right homonymous hemianopia with macular sparing was noted, but his visual acuity was normal. There was neither a global deterioration of intellectual capacities nor aphasia. Most striking finding was his difficulty in identifying common objects and colours along with a profound alexia. Prosopagnosia was absent. Visual naming both for objects and line drawings was severely impaired. He was unable to describe or demonstrate the use of the objects which could not be named. Pointing to objects named by the examiner was also severely impaired. Although tactile naming was also impaired, both of auditory naming for environmental sounds and naming objects in response to verbal descriptions were preserved. While he was not able to copy the objects skillfully, matching of identical objects and matching objects to line drawings were normal. Clumsiness of coping was thought to be due to his constructional apraxia and visuomotor ataxia. Therefore, his deficit in visual domain was considered to be associative visual agnosia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:[Visual agnosia evolving to optic aphasia--a case study]. 130 17

Alexia without agraphia is readily recognized in its pure (without other neurologic findings) but rare form. However, this deficit is more common when associated with other behavioral disturbances that result from trauma or cerebral infarction to the posterior cerebral hemispheres. Two cases presented with alexia without agraphia following infarction within the posterior cerebral artery territory. Because of initial confusion and disorientation the patients were diagnosed as demented and unsuitable for rehabilitation. Both subjects had a visual field deficit and color agnosia. Prosopagnosia, simultanagnosia, and ataxia of visual-motor control were also present. The second case was unusual because of pure word blindness associated with a right occipital lobe lesion. Only a few such cases have been reported in the literature worldwide. This paper demonstrates that careful delineation of cognitive deficits permits greater understanding of functional disorders with improved rehabilitation outcome.
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PMID:Alexia without agraphia and associated disorders: importance of recognition in the rehabilitation setting. 356 19