Reduplicative paramnesia in a case with corpus callosum lesion

Abstract

Purpose: Reduplicative paramnesias (RP) are rare memory disorders characterized by the subjective conviction that a place, person or event is duplicated. Even if RP often follow a right frontal lesion, several studies have stressed the importance of bilateral hemispheric pathology. We report a patient who developed RP and hallucinations as well as who had a corpus callosum lesion. Case Presentation: A 71-years-old married women admitted to Marmara University Hospital with the symptoms of ataxia and difficulty in talking emerged during the last month before admission. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a space occupying lesion at the genu of the corpus callosum extending through frontal parts of the lateral ventricles. On physical examination patient had bilateral hypoactive deep tendon reflexes, left hemihypoesthesia, and ataxia. Stereotaxic biopsy of the intracranial lesion revealed glioblastoma multiforme. Mental state examination detected severe disorientation to time, spontaneous and rapid speech which is occasionally, visual hallucinations and reduplicative misidentifications of her daughter with her bride and the hospital with her home. Discussion and Conclusion: Although some authors suggest that a right hemisphere lesion is necessary and sufficient for RP, there is view that a bilateral or diffuse lesions are necessary for RP to occur. Moreover, since the corpus callosum is an interhemispheric structure, lesions of this structure which may interrupt the connection between the two hemispheres can also lead RP.