Case of ictal aphasia and post-ictal aphasia due to focal epilepsy associated with cerebral hemorrhage

Abstract

The patient was a 69-year-old right-handed woman. She had sensory aphasia, and the brain MRI revealed a subacute phase hemorrhage in the left subcortical temporal lobe. We speculated that the patient had post-ictal aphasia due to symptomatic epileptic seizures associated with cerebral hemorrhage. Seven months later, she was readmitted to the hospital with sensory aphasia; however, this time, the brain MRI FLAIR demonstrated high signal in the left medial temporal lobe and thalamic pillow. Furthermore, the electroencephalogram showed periodic discharges focused on the left temporal region. ¹²³I-IMP SPECT of cerebral blood flow indicated a cluster within the medial left temporal lobe. Aphasia associated with nonconvulsive seizures was considered. Sudden onset sensory aphasia should be differentiated from ictal and post-ictal aphasias.