title: Visual object agnosia and pure word alexia: correlation of functional magnetic resonance imaging and lesion localization.
abstract: We present a case of a 64-year-old, right-handed female with a metastatic breast cancer lesion involving the left posterior inferior temporal lobe causing complete loss of the ability to recognize visually common objects and words. After her symptoms resolved on corticosteroid therapy, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) mapping demonstrated strong left-hemispheric dominance for word recognition and right-hemispheric dominance for object recognition. The case illustrates the relationships among ventral occipito-temporal cortical activation, lesion localization, and lesion-induced deficits of higher visual function. The relationship between hemispheric dominance determined by fMRI and risk of postoperative deficit depends on the specific visual function of interest.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Division of Neuroradiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 9200 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
authors.forename: Carmen V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Salvan
authors.forename: John L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ulmer
authors.forename: Edgar A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: DeYoe
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wascher
authors.forename: Vincent P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Mathews
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Prost
mesh_terms: D000377:Agnosia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000556:secondary; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral; D004411:Dyslexia, Acquired / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D013702:Temporal Lobe; D014796:Visual Perception