Cerebral arteriovenous malformation and foreign accent syndrome: a case report

Br J Neurosurg. 2022 Apr 27:1-5. doi: 10.1080/02688697.2022.2057434. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Objective: This case study aims to present the Foreign Accent Syndrome (FAS) in a patient with Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformation (cAVM), considering neuropsychological, radiological and microsurgical aspects.

Methods: The patient underwent preoperative neuropsychological assessment and MRI and Tractography were performed to identify fibers close to the lesion site. In the surgical procedure, a craniotomy was performed for excision of the cAVM. After surgery and 6 months after the surgical procedure, the patient underwent further and neuropsychological evaluations.

Results: The presence of AVM located in the posterior part of the medial surface of the left superior frontal gyrus was identified and the neuropsychological evaluation found cognitive deficits and symptoms characteristic of FAS, which disappeared after resection.

Conclusion: This report presented a case of cAVM in which symptoms were found even without rupture, which was no longer observed after the surgical procedure, demonstrating the relationship of cAVM with the symptoms and neuroanatomical bases of FAS.

Keywords: Cerebral arteriovenous malformation; foreign accent syndrome; language; neuropsychological assessment.