Infarction /CC

Out of 1,629 cases, 59 patients (3.6%) with corpus callosum infarctions were identified by diffusion weighted imaging, including 7 patients who had ischemic lesions restricted to the corpus callosum territory. Thirty six patients had lesions in the splenium (61.0%). Corpus callosum infarction patients suffered from a broad spectrum of symptoms. A classical callosal disconnection syndrome was found in 2 out of all patients with corpus callosum infarctions. Statistical differences in the risk factor and infarct pattern between the genu and/or body group and splenium group were revealed. Corpus callosum infarction and the callosal disconnection syndrome were generally rare. The most susceptible location of ischemic corpus callosum lesion was the splenium. Splenium infarctions were often associated with bilateral cerebral hemisphere involvement (46.2%).

Damage to the CC usually produces disturbance of higher brain function. Giroud and Dumas described two classic symptoms of the CC infarction: (1) callosal disconnection syndrome including apraxia, agraphia, tactile anomia of the left hand, and alien hand syndrome (AHS) as well as (2) frontal type gait disorders including a wide base, shuffling gait with short. Based on common anatomical understanding, three CC parts were discriminated: the genu, the body and the splenium, steps and loss of concomitant arm swing as the result of lacunar lesions in the anterior CC portion.

Exact pathophysiological cascades leading to CC infarction require further detailed investigation which, due to the aforementioned overall low incidence and potential life style differences.