Akinetic mutism--not coma

Abstract

We describe a case of akinetic mutism mistaken as coma. A 77-year old lady presented with apparent unresponsiveness. In fact she responded when stimulated. She subsequently developed movements typical of clonic perseveration, erroneously treated as seizures. She also had features of a frontal lobe syndrome. Initial CT scan showed no abnormality; it was only after an MRI scan that a diagnosis of bilateral paramedian thalamic infarction was made. MRI scanning should be considered early in the investigation of patients with atypical neurological presentation.