Rinsho Shinkeigaku (Clinical Neurology)

Brief Clinical Note

A case of alexia with agraphia caused by the re-infarct in left lateral occipital gyrus

Nagato Kuriyama, M.D.1)*, Norio Suzuki, S.T.2) and Minoru Matsuda, M.D.2)

1)Department of Neurology, National Shiga Hospital
2)Department of geriatric neurology, Shiga Medical Center for Adults
*Department of Neurology and Gerontology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine

The angular gyrus has been proposed as the key area of reading and writing function. In recent PET (positron emission topography) activation studies, role of angular gyrus in the reading and writing has been reestimated. Whether the angular gyrus is necessary for reading and writing or not is now under discussion and should be clinically revised.
We experienced a case that presented classical alexia with agraphia of kana (Japanese syllabogram) caused by the re-infarct in left lateral occipital gyrus. This case showed the alexia with agraphia more apparent in Japanese kana than in kanji characters. Interestingly, no higher cortical dysfunction was revealed at the first cerebral infarction in left angular gyrus which was assumed as the key area for alexia with agraphia. This case supported the opinion which pointed out the importance of left occipital gyrus on Japanese kana reading.

(CLINICA NEUROL, 46: 505|509, 2006)
key words: alexia with agraphia, cerebral infarction, lateral occipital gyrus, angular gyrus

(Received: 7-Nov-05)