title: [Bilateral ageusia caused by right thalamic infarction].
abstract: A 58-year-old man noticed left hemiparesis at 01:00 pm on a particular day in March 2006. Because his symptoms developed gradually, he was referred to the emergency room of our hospital at 05:00 pm and was admitted with the diagnosis of cerebral infarction. While he presented slight left hemiparesis involving the face, impairment of sensation was not apparent. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of the head showed a high-intensity area in the ventromedial area in the right thalamus. The patient was treated with anticoagulant and edaravone, and his symptoms resolved on hospital day 3. When he began eating, he noticed that he was unable to distinguish tastes. On day 5, we performed taste examination using a commercial kit. The taste sensation on both sides of his tongue was severely affected, while the touch sensations in the mouth and olfaction were preserved. His symptoms improved spontaneously and resolved on hospital day 15. This is the second case report of bilateral ageusia caused by right thalamic infarction. Our study indicates the importance of the right thalamus in taste sensation involving both sides of the tongue.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Kohka Public Hospital.
authors: Shuro
authors: S
authors: Kogawa
authors: Isamu
authors: I
authors: Yamakawa
authors: Atsushi
authors: A
authors: Nakajima
authors: Syu
authors: S
authors: Yamada
mesh_terms: D000370:Ageusia / Q000209:etiology*; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013649:Taste; D055697:Taste Perception; D013788:Thalamus / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014059:Tongue / Q000503:physiopathology