Hyperperfusion in the lateral temporal cortex, the striatum and the thalamus during complex visual hallucinations: single photon emission computed tomography findings in patients with Charles Bonnet syndrome.
We report the findings of single photon emission computed tomography using 123I-IMP and magnetic resonance image studies of five patients with Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS) while they were having visual hallucinations. All patients developed complex visual hallucinations after suffering from eye disease. The mean age at onset of CBS was 71.6 years. Single photon emission computed tomography studies in all patients disclosed hyperperfusion areas with some asymmetrical appearances in the lateral temporal cortex, striatum and thalamus. These results suggest that when elderly people suffer from eye disease, subsequent excessive cortical compensation in the lateral temporal cortex, striatum and thalamus may precipitate the development of visual hallucinations.
Adachi
N
N
National Leprosarium Tama Zenshoen, Higashimurayama, Japan. adacchan@tky2.3web.ne.jp
Watanabe
T
T
Matsuda
H
H
Onuma
T
T
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral / Q000502:physiology*; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006940:Hyperemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D013577:Syndrome; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013788:Thalamus / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*