Neuropsychological correlates of cerebral blood flow anomalies and MRI lesions after rupture of anterior communicating artery aneurysms

The aim of this study was to investigate relations between neuropsychologic al disorders resulting from rupture of aneurysms of the anterior communicat ing artery, regional cerebral blood flow anomalies and brain lesions reveal ed on MRI. Blood flow was analyzed in 22 consecutive patients at least 3 we eks after surgery using single photon emission computed tomography. Flow va lues were calculated in 10 regions of interest on each side of the brain. A ttention, motor control, executive functions, short-term and long-term lear ning (verbal, visuo-spatial), categorial evocation, general intellectual pe rformances were investigated. Flow drop was observed over frontal areas, wh ich predominated on the right side. The correlation analyses showed that.. (I) the frontal cerebral blood flow was correlated with the severity of les ions, and the posterior flow was inversely correlated with these lesions; ( 2) flow values in the frontal but also in the subcortical and at times the posterior areas were partially correlated with the cognitive performance le vel, but less than was the severity of MRI lesions; (3) some of correlation s were negative, especially for the Tower of London Test, between the flow drop or the lesions severity and the performance level. In conclusion, the cerebral blood flow study of such patients can be of interest for the under standing of the mechanism of some of the cognitive disorders. However its e xplanatory power is relatively limited, at least while using the single pho ton emission computed tomography technique, and in comparison with MRI. The lesion of the internal frontal and cingulate areas is the key factor of th e disorders of executive functions, memory and general intellectual capacit ies.