Herpes Simplex Encephalitis Showing Prominent Spatial Disorientation with Visual Hallucination

ABSTRACT

A 58-year-old woman was admitted to hospital due to memory impairment and visuospatial dysfunction. Brain MRI revealed high signal lesions on both the temporal and inferior frontal lobes. She was diagnosed as having herpes simplex encephalitis based on her clinical and laboratory findings. Twelve months later she still presented with spatial disorientation, although her amnesia was improved. Neuropsychological testing revealed multiple cognitive impairments, and especially visuospatial dysfunction. This patient represents a case of herpes simplex encephalitis associated with spatial disorientation even when the amnesia had disappeared.