J Clin Neurol.  2007 Sep;3(3):161-164. 10.3988/jcn.2007.3.3.161.

Bilateral Ageusia in a Patient with a Left Ventroposteromedial Thalamic Infarct: Cortical Localization of Taste Sensation by Statistical Parametric Mapping Analysis of PET Images

• Kim JE
• Song H
• Jeong JH
• Choi KG
• Na DL

• KMID: 2135497
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3988/jcn.2007.3.3.161

Abstract

Unilateral taste loss is usually observed on the side contralateral to a thalamic infarction, despite gustatory function being represented bilaterally. We report a rare case of bilateral taste loss in a patient with an acute left unilateral thalamic infarction, with unilateral left insular hypometabolism demonstrated by statistical parametric map analysis of PET images. Our observations suggest that the left insular cortex and left ventroposteromedial thalamic nuclei are critical to bilateral gustatory sensation.

Keyword

Unilateral thalamic stroke; Bilateral taste loss; PET

MeSH Terms

Ageusia*
Humans
Infarction
Sensation*
Thalamic Nuclei

Figure

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  Figure 1 Diffusion-weighted (A), fast fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery (B), and T2-weighted (C) brain PET images all show an acute left thalamic infarction.

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  Figure 2 Brain 18F-FDG PET (A) and SPM (B) images showing markedly decreased metabolism in the left frontal operculum and left insular cortex. SPM images are shown in a neurological orientation.

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