ABSTRACT
A case of apperceptive visual agnosia, revealing difficulties only in the performance on a standard overlapping-figures test, has been studied. Unusually, the patient demonstrated difficulties only with two semantic categories of the overlapped figures (clothes and school accessories); preserving, however, the knowledge of the same figures when presented isolated. We propose that the underlying deficit is only of a pseudo-semantic nature and is actually due to certain similarities of the two overlapping combinations, creating difficulties still on the apperception level only.
Subject(s)
Agnosia/physiopathology , Semantics , Visual Perception/physiology , Female , Humans , Intelligence Tests , Middle Aged , Neuropsychological TestsABSTRACT
The authors examined by Doppler sonography 86 patients undergoing rehabilitation after being treated for malignant tumor of the larynx by radical surgery and radiotherapy. In 39.5% of the patients pathological results were registered mainly in the extracranial segment of the carotids. Focal neurological deficits were registered only in 3 patients, while all the others were asymptomatic. The correlation between the time elapsed after radiotherapy and the stenotic-occlusive changes registered in the carotids, as well as the effect of hypertension, diabetes and smoking were analysed. The results suggest the influence of ionizing radiation on the occurrence of stenotic-occlusive processes in the neck segment of the carotid arteries. The population of patients examined is considered at risk of stroke.
Subject(s)
Carotid Arteries/diagnostic imaging , Laryngeal Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Laryngectomy , Aged , Blood Flow Velocity , Carotid Arteries/radiation effects , Combined Modality Therapy , Female , Humans , Laryngeal Neoplasms/surgery , Male , Middle Aged , UltrasonographyABSTRACT
Patients with stenotic-occlusive process in the extracranial part of the carotid artery have been examined by the authors in the period of 15 years. The frequency of stenotic-occlusive process of the carotid artery in the neck segment, if compared to other cerebrovascular diseases, amounts to 4%. In the majority of cases this process is encountered in patients of male sex, the greatest number of patients being between 51 and 60 years old. According to clinical features, 49% of the patients suffered a complete stroke. First among the risk factors are hypertension and smoking. Previous symptoms of focal brain genesis are shown in most cases by the anamnesis and most frequently focal manifestations are also found as a result of objective neurological check-ups. The physical check-up of the carotid artery in the neck must not be neglected. In the diagnostics of the disease a stenotic process of the carotid artery is shown by non-invasive examinations, Doppler sonography in 97% and ophthalmodinamometry in 76% of cases.
Subject(s)
Arterial Occlusive Diseases , Carotid Artery Diseases , Adult , Aged , Arterial Occlusive Diseases/complications , Arterial Occlusive Diseases/diagnosis , Arterial Occlusive Diseases/therapy , Carotid Artery Diseases/complications , Carotid Artery Diseases/diagnosis , Carotid Artery Diseases/therapy , Cerebrovascular Disorders/etiology , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
We have examined the results of treating 259 patients with stenotic-occlusive process in the extracranial part of the carotid artery in the period of 15 years. We have compared the results achieved in the group treated non-surgically with those of the surgically treated group, with the following criteria in mind: survival, severity of persistent neurological findings and working ability. According to the analysis, if compared to the surgically treated group of patients, in those medically treated was registered a much higher rate of mortality in the period of hospital treatment and in the first six months following thereafter. The estimation of persistent neurological findings, performed 6 months after discharge from hospital, showed an improvement in 41% of non-surgically treated and 72% of surgically treated patients. At the same time, as far as working ability is concerned, 27% of the medically treated patients returned to work, and 44% of those surgically treated.
