Posterior cerebral artery stroke presenting as alexia without agraphia

Am J Emerg Med. 2014 Dec;32(12):1553.e3-4. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2014.04.046. Epub 2014 Apr 26.

Abstract

Alexia without agraphia (pure alexia) was the first of the disconnection syndromes to be described by Dejerine who reported a patient of alexia without agraphia secondary to an embolic occipital lobe infarct. We herein report a 55-year-old man who presented with alexia without agraphia with magnetic resonance imaging suggestive of left posterior cerebral artery infarct involving left occipital lobe and splenium of corpus callosum. Alexia without agraphia is a relatively uncommon clinical condition, which should always be thought in a patient presenting with difficulty in reading with normal visual acuity. Ophthalmologists should also be aware of this disconnection syndrome as many patients initially take their advice due to predominant visual complaints. Early diagnosis and treatment of this condition help in ensuring the patient and attendants about nonprogressive nature of the disease and may prevent further episodes of stroke.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Alexia, Pure / diagnosis
  • Alexia, Pure / etiology*
  • Cerebral Arterial Diseases / complications
  • Cerebral Arterial Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Cerebral Infarction / complications
  • Cerebral Infarction / diagnosis
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuroimaging
  • Stroke / complications
  • Stroke / diagnosis*