A Case of Peduncular Hallucinosis Due to a Pontine Infarction: a Rare Complication of Coronary Angiography

Background: Cerebral thromboembolism is a rare, but well-recognized complication of angiographic procedures. Peduncular hallucinosis (PH) is a form of complex visual hallucinations usually associated with lesions in the midbrain and thalamus.

Case Presentation: We report the case of a 79-years-old male patient with internuclear ophthalmoplegia and vivid lilliputian visual hallucinations (peduncular hallucinations), caused by a pontine infarction following coronary artery catheterization. The patient was started on quetiapine treatment with good results and tolerance. In the next three months, the medication has been discontinued, and the patient is without symptomatology thereafter.

Conclusion: An understanding of how different pathologies may produce complex visual hallucinations can lead to an appropriate treatment, depending on the site and the nature of the lesion. Furthermore, cerebral embolism due to any angiographic procedure, although rare, should always be taken into consideration, upon any neurological manifestation, visual hallucinations included. Hippokratia 2015; 19 (3): 268-269.