title: Thalamic amnesia: Korsakoff syndrome due to left thalamic infarction.
abstract: In order to support the concept that a lesion of the thalamus is sufficient to cause a Korsakoff syndrome, we are presenting 5 patients, all of whom developed the syndrome after sustaining a left (dominant) thalamic infarction. Two patients had pure thalamic strokes followed by a permanent Korsakoff syndrome. One of these patients was studied with neuropsychometric testing, as well as with a modern MRI scan. In 2 other patients, clinical and imaging data indicate that infarction was not limited to the thalamus. Another patient had bilateral thalamic infarcts but only a temporary Korsakoff syndrome. Neuropathological data are needed to elucidate the exact anatomical substrate of dominant thalamic Korsakoff syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44109.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Winkelman
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Boyd
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000425:Alcohol Amnestic Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D013788:Thalamus / Q000473:pathology*; D014888:Wechsler Scales