Cortical blood flow reduction in capsular/putaminal aphasia syndromes shown by 123I-amphetamine single-photon emission tomography

Tomographic regional cerebral blood flow was measured by 123I-amphetamine SPECT in three patients, who presented with motor or total aphasia showing capsular/putaminal infarctions on CT and MRI. The tomographic blood flow of the left frontoparietal cortex was decreased in all three cases and this persisted up to day 36 after onset in one case despite rapid resolution of the aphasia. An interruption of a neural connection between frontoparietal cortex and subcortical lesions, i.e. diaschisis, is regarded as a cause of cortical hypoperfusion in capsular/putaminal aphasia syndromes.