Balint Syndrome in a Patient With Isolated Corpus Callosum Stroke: A Case Study With Narrative Review

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Neurology
• Vascular Neurology

Background:

• The corpus callosum is crucial for interhemispheric communication.
• Stroke in the corpus callosum can lead to complex neurological deficits.
• Understanding the vascular supply is key to diagnosing and managing these strokes.

Observation:

• A case of isolated bilateral corpus callosum stroke (body and splenium) is presented.
• The patient exhibited Balint syndrome (optic ataxia, simultanagnosia, optic apraxia).
• Partial Gerstmann syndrome (left/right disorientation, acalculia, finger agnosia) was also observed, alongside extinction and astereognosis.

Findings:

• Corpus callosum stroke can manifest with Balint and partial Gerstmann syndromes.
• These deficits occurred without direct parietal lobe involvement, suggesting indirect pathways.
• Extinction and astereognosis further complicate the clinical picture.

Implications:

• This case underscores the diverse and severe neurological consequences of corpus callosum ischemia.
• It emphasizes the need for careful evaluation of visual-spatial and cognitive functions in such patients.
• Reviewing vascular anatomy and neural networks aids in understanding these complex presentations.