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Published on: May 9, 2013
[Bilateral ageusia after left insular and opercular ischemic stroke]
I Mathy1, M J-M Dupuis, Y Pigeolet
1Service de Neurologie, Clinique Saint-Pierre, Ottignies, Belgique.
Revue Neurologique
|May 30, 2003
Summary
A rare case of bilateral ageusia (loss of taste) occurred after a left insular ischemic stroke. This finding highlights the left hemisphere
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurology
- Stroke Research
Background:
- Gustatory disorders are infrequent complications following ischemic stroke.
- Typically, taste disturbances are unilateral and their laterality (ipsilateral or contralateral) depends on the stroke lesion's location.
- The neuroanatomical pathways governing taste perception are complex and not fully elucidated.
Observation:
- A 70-year-old right-handed male presented with acute left opercular syndrome and right hemisensory deficits.
- Neuroimaging confirmed a left insular and opercular ischemic stroke.
- The patient experienced anarthria, dysphagia, and sensory disturbances, which resolved, but developed persistent bilateral ageusia.
Findings:
- The patient developed bilateral ageusia, a rare presentation, following a unilateral left insular stroke.
- Taste disturbances significantly impacted the patient's quality of life, leading to a 6 kg weight loss.
- Symptoms resolved spontaneously after six months.
- This case contributes to the understanding of taste pathways, suggesting a potential predominance of the left cortical hemisphere in taste perception for right-handed individuals.
Implications:
- This case underscores the possibility of bilateral gustatory impairment after a unilateral stroke, challenging the typical unilateral presentation.
- It provides further evidence for the critical role of the insular cortex in taste processing.
- The findings suggest lateralization of taste perception, with a potential left hemisphere dominance in right-handed subjects, warranting further investigation.
