Foreign accent syndrome mimicked by Garcin syndrome with spontaneous resolution

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Hoffmann, Michael

Affiliations: Department of Neurology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA

Note: [] Address for correspondence: Michael Hoffmann, MD, Department of Neurology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33626, USA. E-mail: mhoffman@health.usf.edu

Abstract: An English speaking women developed a French accent, without any aphasic syndromes, in conjunction with multiple left sided cranial nerve deficits, temporally related to cranial trauma. Extensive testing with multimodality magnetic resonance imaging, cerebrospinal fluid and laboratory analysis was unremarkable. She was followed over a 3 year period during which her French accent resolved as did the majority of her multiple unilateral cranial neuropathies. The neurological diagnoses included a foreign accent syndrome attributed to a reversible Garcin syndrome.

Journal: Behavioural Neurology, vol. 19, no. 4, pp. 195-197, 2008