An Autopsy Case of Pick’s Disease

J Korean Neurol Assoc > Volume 18(6); 2000 > Article

Journal of the Korean Neurological Association 2000;18(6): 786-789.

Pick병 1 부검예

이광수, 심동석 ·박성민 ·이연수*·양기화†,‡

가톨릭대학교 신경과학교실,임상병리학교실*,가톨릭뇌은행†,국립독성연구소 병리부‡

An Autopsy Case of Pick’s Disease

Kwang-Soo Lee, M.D., Dong-Suk Shim, M.D., Seong-Min Park, M.D.,Yeon-Soo Lee, M.D.*, Ki-Hwa Yang, M.D.†,‡

Department of Neurology, Clinical Pathology*, and Catholic Brain Bank†, The Catholic University of Korea Department of Pathology, National Institute of Toxicological Research‡

Abstract

Pick’s disease is a rare neurodegenerative disorder presenting cortical type of dementia. Pick’s disease shows unique clinical and pathological features, that are due to a degeneration of fronto-temporal lobes of the cerebrum. The authors experienced a case of Pick’s disease in a 58-year-old male patient who had dementia symptoms for five years. The patient showed compulsive behavior since five years ago. Memory decline started from four years ago and progressed. Brain CT disclosed lobar atrophy of the cerebral gyri in frontal and temporal lobes. He died of septicemia associated with aspiration pneumonia. At autopsy, both cerebral hemispheres showed marked encephalomalacia. The gyral atrophy was moderately severe in prefrontal and anterior temporal lobes. Coronal section disclosed moderate dilatation of the lateral ventricles. Microscopically, there were marked neuronal loss in prefrontal and anterior temporal cortices. Also noted were Pick’s cells and Pick’s body in occasional pyramidal cells preserved.J Korean Neurol Assoc 18(6):786~789, 2000Key Words : Pick’s disease, Fronto-temporal dementia, Autopsy