Transient global amnesia: complication of cerebral angiography.

Transient global amnesia is a disorder of mentation in which there is an abrupt onset of memory loss and disorientation without change in consciousness. The disorder involves events and activities of the present and recent past , but leaves personal identification intact. There is no associated focal or sensory deficit [1]. An episode usually lasts for several hours. Memory returns to normal with residual amnesia for the period of time from the onset to recovery . No consistent precipitating factors have been reported. While series have been published associating the syndrome to a number of possible causative mechanisms [1-3], we know of no previous reports in the radiologic literature describing total global amnesia as a complication of cerebral angiography. Our experience with this syndrome forms the basis of this communication.