1. This patient exhibited a restricted deficit of higher intellectual functioning. What was that deficit?
Relatively isolated short term memory loss with the inability to form new memories.
2. What specific area(s) of the brain is involved with this higher function? Would you expect the neurologic lesion in this case to be unilateral or bilateral? If unilateral, what side of the brain would be involved?
Medial temporal lobe memory system (especially the hippocampal formation).
Bilateral, although this syndrome has been described with lesions in the left or right hippocampus.
3. The findings in this case represent a classic neurologic syndrome. What is the name of that syndrome?
Transient global amnesia (TGA)
4. In general, what type of pathologic process is involved in this case?
Controversial. Reversible hippocampal dysfunction; probably ischemic, but other etiologies (migraine cortical spreading depression, hippocampal ictal activity, venous congestion, etc.) have been advanced.
5. What is the prognosis?
Benign. Most patients only have one episode, and completed stroke is rare.
6. What diagnostic procedure(s) would you undertake at this point?
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