Memory deficits and frontal lobe syndrome associated with bilateral globus pallidus lesions in a patient with synthetic cannabinoid use

Abstract

Major strategic functions of the basal ganglia are thought to involve the fine tuning and modulation of the activity of the most parts of the frontal cortex, control of the skeleto-motor and oculo-motor movements, and modulation of the limbic system and associative functions. In this case report, a patient with a 10-year history of synthetic cannabinoid use and bilateral symmetrical hyperintense lesions of the globus pallidus in T2 weighed images following head trauma is described in conjunction clinical signs of global amnesia, behavioral changes consistent with frontal lobe syndrome, and reduced affect display, without any movement disorders. To the best of our knowledge, this patients represents the first case who had bilateral globus pallidus lesions due to synthetic cannabinoid use together with frontal lobe syndrome-like clinical signs without movement disorder. This case report points out to the fact that synthetic cannabinoid use may lead to development of bilateral globus pallidus lesions, which may be associated with amnesia without movement disorder, suggesting that this clinical picture may have resulted from the interruption of pathways between the prefrontal cortex and basal ganglia.

Keywords

• Globus pallidus
• amnesia
• frontal lobe syndrome
• synthetic cannabinoid use