Aphasia in multiple sclerosis: clinical and radiologic correlations

Aphasia is not commonly reported in multiple sclerosis (MS). We report on two clinically definite MS patients, with a remitting-relapsing course, who presented with acute onset of aphasia. MRI demonstrated giant plaques in the left frontal region in one and in the left centrum semiovale in the other. These lesions were not evident in MRI performed several months previously, and may account for the aphasia. In both patients, language functions markedly improved within several weeks. In one patient, follow-up MRI 3 months later revealed a moderate reduction in the size of the plaque.