Frontal lobe syndrome due to olfactory groove meningioma: a literature review

Abstract

Behavioral syndromes observed with frontal lobe injury involve lesions of the circuits, connecting the frontal lobe to subcortical structures. Dorsolateral prefrontal circuit lesions result in executive function deficits, orbitofrontal circuit lesions result in disinhibition and impulsivity, and abulia (apathy and amotivation) occur with injury to the anterior cingulate circuit. Thirty-nine years-old female patient was evaluated in our outpaient clinic due to experiencing anosmia for the past two years and headache which appeared a few months after this complaint. In addition to these complaints, the patient reported apathy, anhedonia, lack of energy, inability to perform household chores and increased sleep need for the past 1.5 years. Lately, the patient also reported having blurred vision and had an incidence of urinary incontinence during sleep. The clinical presentation was compatible with anterior cingulate syndrome due to a large olfactory groove meningioma. Depending on the data, we were motivated to review the frontal lobe syndrome and meningiomas, especially the ones originating from the olfactory groove. (Anatolian Journal of Psychiatry 2010; 11:279-284)