The Aim of This Study Is to Evaluate Cortical Abnormalities in Right and Left Lenticulostriate Infarcts

Abstract

Twenty-four patients who have had first time stroke, who didn't have a known dementia and who have been hospitalised in the neurology clinic of our hospital during three years were included in this study. In all cases computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MR) was performed at least two times, one at the twentyfourth hour and other after the tenth day. Patients who have had another infarct located in the cortical territory of the ipsilateral middle cerebral artery were excluded. All patients were examined for aphasia, apraxia, anosognosia, ototopognosia, neglect and all were assessed with mini mental state examination in the first week and in the second month. Seven of the left lenticulostriate infarcts patients had aphasia, 2 had buccofacial and 2 had ideomotor apraxia. Two patients had no cortical sign. Eight of the right lenticulostriate infarcts patients had visuospatial neglect, 5 had anosognosia, 3 had ideomotor and 2 had buccofacial apraxia. Seven patients had no cortical sign. In 63% of patients who have had no cortical infarcts, there was cortical sign such as aphasia, apraxia, anosognosia, ototopognosia, neglect and motor impersistence. It was striking that this cortical signs had disappeared in the examination after two months.