Prosopometamorphopsia and alexia following left splenial corpus callosum infarction: Case report and literature review

Abstract

Background: Lesions to the posterior section of the corpus callosum, called the splenium, and the immediate area have been separately associated with perceived visual distortions of the face (prosopometamorphopsia) or difficulty reading (alexia). Case report: This case report describes a right-handed patient who complained of prosopometamorphopsia associated with the lower part of the face and alexia following infarction of the left splenium in the corpus callosum. Conclusions: The splenium and adjacent retrosplenial cortex facilitate the transfer of visual information and memory function between the two hemispheres of the brain and along the Papez circuit, respectively. We believe that damage to this singular area of the brain could bring about several concurrent yet disparate symptoms, such as the reported prosopometamorphopsia and alexia with this patient.

Keywords

• Prosopometamorphopsia
• Transient global amnesia
• Alexia
• Splenium
• Retrosplenial cortex