Caudate Volume Change in Transient Global Amnesia Patients; Voxel-Based Morphometric Study

J Korean Neurol Assoc > Volume 29(3); 2011 > Article

Journal of the Korean Neurological Association 2011;29(3): 199-204.

일과성완전기억상실증 환자에서 꼬리핵 부피 변화: 화적소기반형태계측 연구

김고운, 윤영철 권오상

중앙대학교 의과대학 신경과학교실

Caudate Volume Change in Transient Global Amnesia Patients; Voxel-Based Morphometric Study

Ko-woon Kim

Department of Neurology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

Abstract

Background: Transient global amnesia (TGA) is characterized by a severe disturbance of memory, lasting less than a day, and complete resolution. However, some authors have suggested the occurrence of permanent memory impairment in such cases. In this study, we investigated whether the gray-matter structure suffers degeneration in TGA, based on the assumption that TGA attacks appear to be related to underlying permanent pathology.
Methods: T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging data for 20 TGA and 55 normal subjects were analyzed. The gray-matter volume was measured using voxel-based morphometry. The subjects also completed the Seoul Neuropsychological Screening Battery (SNSB).
Results: The gray-matter volume was reduced in the left superior frontal gyrus, right precentral gyrus, right superior frontal gyrus, left caudate nucleus, left precentral gyrus, left post central gyrus, and both putamens. The SNSB revealed the presence of selective neuropsychological dysfunctions after clinical recovery. Most of the cases exhibited attention deficit, and difficulties in copying of the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure, and in the Seoul verbal learning test.
Conclusions: Left caudate nucleus atrophy could explain the attention deficit and memory impairment experienced in these TGA patients. Many patients with TGA have neuropsychological dysfunctions even after they appear to be clinically improved. KeyWords:Transient global amnesia, Voxel-based morphometry, Statistical parametric mapping analysis, Seoul Neuropsychological Screening Battery