Shailesh Male1, Ramin Zand2. 1. Department of Neurology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee. 2. Department of Neurology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee; Department of Neurology, Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, Pennsylvania. Electronic address: rzand@geisinger.edu.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Mamillary bodies play an important role in human memory and emotions. Vascular lesions causing an isolated mammillary body lesion without affecting the surrounding structures are very rare. METHODS: A 53-year-old male was brought to the emergency department with acute-onset memory problems suggestive of partial anterograde and retrograde amnesia. RESULTS: Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an isolated left mammillary body infarct sparing adjacent structures. CONCLUSION: Mamillary bodies play an intrinsic role in memory formation and retrieval rather than acting as relay-only station for hippocampal projections. Non-hippocampal input from the limbic midbrain via the ventral tegmental nucleus of Gudden could be contributing to its function.
OBJECTIVES: Mamillary bodies play an important role in human memory and emotions. Vascular lesions causing an isolated mammillary body lesion without affecting the surrounding structures are very rare. METHODS: A 53-year-old male was brought to the emergency department with acute-onset memory problems suggestive of partial anterograde and retrograde amnesia. RESULTS: Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an isolated left mammillary body infarct sparing adjacent structures. CONCLUSION: Mamillary bodies play an intrinsic role in memory formation and retrieval rather than acting as relay-only station for hippocampal projections. Non-hippocampal input from the limbic midbrain via the ventral tegmental nucleus of Gudden could be contributing to its function.