Korean J Biol Psychiatry.  2008 Feb;15(1):46-53.

A case of Posterior Cortical Atrophy Presenting with Features of Atypical Dementia

• Park KH
• Kim SW
• Shin DJ
• Park HM
• Lee YB
• Seung YH

Abstract

Posterior cortical atrophy(PCA) is a presenile dementia that presents primarily with signs and symptoms of cortical visual dysfunction, while memory is relatively preserved until the late stage of the disease. We report a patient with PCA, confirmed by brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and F18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography(FDG PET). A 58-year-old right-handed woman presented initially with visual dimness and difficulty finding things around her. She had partial Balint's syndrome, partial Gerstmann syndrome, and idiomotor apraxia. She also had a mild memory disturbance, but preserved insight of her disease. Neuropsychological evaluation showed decreased parietal and left temporal functions bilaterally. Brain MRI and F18-FDG PET revealed typical bilateral occipitoparietal atrophy and hypometabolism, which were slightly worse on the right side. Cholinesterase inhibitor administration for 6 months improved the memory impairment slightly, but not the cortical visual dysfunction. This is a typical case of PCA, confirmed by neurologic signs and imaging findings.

Keyword

Posterior cortical atrophy; Cortical visual dysfunction, Balint's syndrome; Gerstman syndrome; Idiomotor apraxia; Occipitoparietal hypometabolism

MeSH Terms

Alzheimer Disease
Apraxias
Atrophy
Brain
Cholinesterases
Dementia
Electrons
Female
Gerstmann Syndrome
Glycogen Storage Disease Type VI
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Memory
Middle Aged
Neurologic Manifestations
Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis
Cholinesterases