title: Transient global amnesia: Only in already disrupted neuronal integrity of memory network?
abstract: Transient global amnesia is a well-described clinical syndrome; however, the pathophysiology is perplexing. Structural imaging indicates that punctuate hippocampal lesions are the representative pathophysiology, although functional neuroimaging studies have reported that the various regions comprising the episodic memory network are involved. We hypothesized that the neuronal integrity of the memory network might correlate with amnesia symptoms when there is any insult that can affect the hippocampus. Diffusion tensor images of 5 patients with variable diffusion-weighted imaging findings with or without transient global amnesia symptoms were analyzed. Diffusion tensor image analyses were performed using DTI studio software. A patient with a typical restricted diffusion involving the right hippocampus, but without memory symptoms, had more abundant cingulum fibers. However, the serial cingulum fibers of patients having experienced multiple attacks did not show a decremental tendency. The volume of fibers in the affected side was lower than that of the opposite side. This report suggests that memory-related symptoms of transient global amnesia are related to the disrupted neuronal integrity of cingulum fibers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Konkuk University Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yeonsil
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Konkuk University Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jeeyoung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Center for Geriatric Neuroscience Research, Institute of Biomedical Science, Konkuk Medical Science Research Center, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Kyoung Ja
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Konkuk University Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea; Department of Neuroscience, Center for Geriatric Neuroscience Research, Institute of Biomedical Science, Konkuk Medical Science Research Center, Seoul, South Korea. Electronic address: alzdoc@kuh.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Seol-Heui
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D020236:Amnesia, Transient Global / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
keywords: Cingulum; Integrity; Neuroimaging; Transient global amnesia