Samir Al-Kattib MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Bernhard Haider MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Stephan Iglseder, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Christian Eggers, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Christian Lampl MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Christian Luft MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To test for an association between diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) lesions found at the hippocampus and intracranial arterial stenoses and occlusions in patients with transient global amnesia (TGA).

We retrospectively identified 115 patients discharged from our stroke center with the diagnosis of TGA who underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) including DWI between April 2007 and October 2010. Time-of-flight (TOF) angiography was performed in a total of 51 patients during the same exam. Cerebral MRI was assessed for DWI lesions at the hippocampus and TOF angiography was assessed for stenoses and occlusions of the intracranial parts of the carotid and vertebral arteries and the cerebral arteries. The correlation between diffusion weighted imaging lesions and abnormalities of the intracranial arteries was examined.

DWI lesions in the hippocampus were detected in 40 patients (35%), of whom 26 (59%) underwent TOF angiography. 25 (33%) out of a total of 76 patients without DWI lesion (65%) also underwent TOF angiography. Only one patient (3,8%) with a point-shaped lesion in DWI in the left hippocampus showed an ipsilateral stenosis of the posterior cerebral artery. Of the patients without DWI lesions two (8%) showed significant alterations of the posterior cerebral artery (one occlusion of the right posterior cerebral artery and one stenosis of the left posterior cerebral artery).

Our results show no association of transient global amnesia with DWI lesions with alterations of the intracranial arteries.

MRI and TOF angiography support the suggestion of a non-ischemic, non-vascular origin of TGA and may not be helpful in routine use for the work-up of the disease.  

Al-Kattib, S, Haider, B, Iglseder, S, Eggers, C, Lampl, C, Luft, C, Transient Global Amnesia: Diffusion-weighted Imaging Lesions at the Hippocampus and Intracranial Arterial Alterations.  Radiological Society of North America 2011 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 26 - December 2, 2011 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2011/11034217.html