The daily educational pearl – Gerstmann’s syndrome

Gerstmann’s syndrome

= lesions affecting the dominant (usually left) parietal lobe (CVA / space occupying lesion etc.)

Clinical features are:

  • Acalculia (when asked to do serial 7s)
  • Agraphia
  • Left-right disorientation
  • Finger agnosia (the inability to recognize, name or appropriately move fingers)

And non-specific parietal-lobe findings, that can occur when either lobe is involved:

  • lower quadrantic hemianopia
  • astereognosis