RECOGNITION OF PEDUNCULAR HALLUCINOSIS PROMPTED BY MAGNETIC-RESONANCEIMAGES

A patient with vertical diplopia, slurring of speech, a feeling of fal ling to the right, and somnolence had a brainstem-thalamic stroke on M RI. Because the MRI findings were similar to those previously reported to occur in peduncular hallucinosis (PH), she was asked whether she h ad hallucinations. She admitted having vivid, formed visions of famili ar people, prompting the recognition of peduncular hallucinosis. Neuro imaging findings can spur as well as complement the clinical interview , uncovering neuropsychiatric manifestations of cerebral lesions that might otherwise go unnoticed. The hallucinations of PH and some other organic hallucinoses, such as fatal familial insomnia, share features and may have similar mechanisms.