Frequency of silent brain infarction in transient global amnesia

Background and purpose To determine the frequency and distribution pattern of acute DWI lesions outside the hippocampus in patients clinically presenting with Transient Global Amnesia (TGA). Methods Consecutive patients clinically presenting with TGA between January 2010 and January 2017 admitted to our hospital were retrospectively evaluated. All patients fulfilled diagnostic criteria of TGA. We analyzed imaging and clinical data of all patients undergoing MRI with high-resolution diffusion-weighted imaging within 72 h from symptom onset. Results A total of 126 cases were included into the study. Fifty-three percent ( n = 71/126) presented with one or more acute lesions in hippocampal CA1-area. Additional acute DWI lesions in other cortical regions were found in 11% ( n = 14/126). All patients with DWI lesions outside the hippocampus presented with neurological symptoms typical for TGA (without additional symptoms.) Conclusions In a relevant proportion of clinical TGA patients, MRI reveals acute ischemic cerebral lesions. Therefore, cerebral MRI should be performed in patients with TGA to identify a possible cardiac involvement and to detect stroke chameleons.