Resumo

LEON GONZALEZ, Roberto A. et al. Bilateral thalamic infarction and cognition in patient with Hodgkin's disease. Rev cubana med [online]. 2006, vol.45, n.2. ISSN 0034-7523.

The affection of the central nervous system in Hodgkin's disease is exceptional. Patients with malignant lesions are at a higher risk for stroke. A patient with history of Hodgkin's disease that had sudden episodes of deterioration of the conciousness level and that in the recovery period presented severe alterations in his higher psychical functions with gross disorders of the fixation and evocation memory, temporospacial disorientation, acalculia, perseverations, inadequate behavior and aggressiveness, was presented. The diagnosis of bilateral thalamic infarction was determined by imaging studies, computerized axial tomography and nuclear magnetic imaging. It was concluded that the thalamus lesions accompanied with alterations of the higher psychical functions of demential character are usually bilateral and that it is important to diagnose these complications, since most of them may be treated. It was recommended to undertake periodical neuropsychological studies to know if there is an evolutive recuperation of the cognitive and behavorial disorders, or to finally diagnose a vascular thalamic dementia.

Palavras-chave : Cognition; Hodgkin's disease; bilateral thalamic infarction.