Hypochondriacal symptoms as the first sign of frontotemporal dementia.

To the Editor: Frontotemporal dementia is a clinicopathological entity characterized by prominent changes in behavior and personality resulting from frontal and temporal lobe degeneration. Neuropsychiatric features can be so conspicuous as to completely overshadow cognitive dysfunction, usually leading to diagnostic flaw or delay. Among these, hypochondriacal symptoms can be found, but usually along with other neuropsychiatric core features such as disrupted social and personal conduct, emotional blunting, and striking lack of insight.