title: [Neuropsychological findings in a case of porencephaly].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  At the present time porencephalia refers to the presence of deep, unilateral or bilateral cavities or excavations, frequently communicating with the subarachnoid space or lateral ventricles, which occur following brain destruction during the end of the foetal or beginning of the new-born period. The clinical features are various forms of cerebral paralysis (spastic hemiparesia, diplegia and tetraplegia), mental retardation and epileptic crises. To date there are few studies giving detailed analysis of the cognitive functions of affected persons.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied the mental and cognitive state of an adult woman with massive porencephalic dilatation of the left lateral ventricle. The patient had a normal verbal intelligence quotient. Cortical function, including language, praxis and gnosis were maintained. She had alterations of memory, particularly verbal, and of frontal function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The deficits observed were not lateralized for neocortical functions, but were lateralized for memory. The neuropsychological pattern partly corresponded to subcortical deterioration due to the lesions of the white matter and basal ganglio.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neurología, Hospital de la Cruz Roja, Barcelona, España. mdelmar@psi.ub.es
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Matarín
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arasanz
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Oms
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Olivella
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Junqué
mesh_terms: D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D014888:Wechsler Scales