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Current Psychiatry Research and Reviews

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 2666-0822
ISSN (Online): 2666-0830

Case Report

Right Temporal Variant Frontotemporal Dementia Misdiagnosed as Schizophrenia

Author(s): Mujeeb U. Shad*, Lindsay Howard, Kristopher Thomas and Vimal M. Aga

Volume 15, Issue 3, 2019

Page: [223 - 227] Pages: 5

DOI: 10.2174/1573400515666190617154129

Price: $65

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Abstract

Background: Schizophrenia-like presentations of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are well documented in medical literature, especially during the initial stage of the illness. We present an interesting case of middle-aged white male, who was initially misdiagnosed with major depression at age 50 and then with schizophrenia due to florid psychosis typically seen in Mild Behavioral Impairment (MBI). It was not until over 4-years that a detailed clinical history along with specific investigations confirmed the diagnosis of right temporal variant frontotemporal dementia (rtv-FTD).

Methods: The unusual presentation of this case warranted 2-deoxy-2-[fluorine-18]fluoro- D-glucose integrated with computed tomography (FDG-PET) and comprehensive neuropsychological testing to estblish a final diagnosis.

Results: The results from neuroimaging and neuropsychological testing supported a diagnosis of rtv-FTD without any evidence for Alzheimer’s dementia.

Conclusion: This case illustrates that late-onset atypical psychiatric symptoms should be evaluated for neurocognitive disorders, and the evaluation should include neuroimaging. It is preferable that the neuroimaging findings be personally interpreted by the provider, who therefore needs to be skilled in interpreting neuroimaging studies.

Keywords: Frontotemporal-dementia, schizophrenia, mild behavioral impairment, Alzheimer’s dementia, FDG-PET, neuroimaging.

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