MRI of callosal disconnection due to cerebral infarction

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed to study two cases of callosal disconnection due to cerebral infarction. Both cases had pure alexia and right homonymous hemianopsia. Midsagittal inversion recovery (IR) images demonstrated that the corpus callosum was completely intact, and coronal IR images revealed involvement of the lingual gyrus, fusiform gyrus, forceps major, inferior longitudinal fascicle, and optic radiation in the dominant cerebral hemisphere in both cases. Midline sagittal images provided direct visualization of the corpus callosum but did not provide sufficient information for the study of callosal disconnection syndromes. Coronal reconstructions aided in visualizing the relationship of lesions to the adjacent structures of cerebral white and gray matter. MRI may be one of the most useful tools for understanding the process of interhemispheric transference of information.