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Temporal lobe seizures from a posterior cerebral artery aneurysm presenting as memory flashbacks

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 May 2015

Mohamed A. Peera  and
Michael LoCurto
Mohamed A. Peera*
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Que.
Michael LoCurto
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, NY
*
Department of Emergency Medicine, McGill University, Rm. A4.62, Royal Victoria Hospital, 687 Pine Ave. W., Montréal QC H3A 1A1; mohamed.peera@mail.mcgill.ca

Abstract

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Memory flashbacks are usually attributed to recreational drugs or psychiatric conditions. The differential diagnosis for memory flashbacks is diverse and challenging; moreover, management is influenced by the working diagnosis. We describe the case of a 35-year-old man who presented with memory flashbacks secondary to temporal lobe seizures from an unruptured aneurysm of the posterior cerebral artery. To our knowledge, a case of this nature has not been previously reported. This case demonstrates the need to recognize that, on rare occasions, a complaint of memory flashbacks can be the result of an organic etiology. We also discuss the challenging presentations of temporal lobe seizures, as they can easily be misdiagnosed as a psychiatric condition.

Keywords

memory flashbackstemporal lobe seizureposterior cerebral arterycerebral aneurysm
Type
Case Report • Rapport de cas
Information
Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine , Volume 11 , Issue 4 , July 2009 , pp. 389 - 392
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians 2009

References

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