Background: Foreign accent syndrome (FAS) consists of a speech rhythm disorder different from dysarthia or aphasia. It is unusually met in multiple sclerosis (MS).
Objective: We report a case of FAS as an initial symptom of a MS.
Methods: A right-handed French woman developed an isolated German foreign accent. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), SPECT and analysis of CSF were performed.
Results: Brain MRI revealed a large hypersignal on T2-weighted images in the left prerolandic white matter. Single photon emission computed tomography showed a right prerolandic hypoperfusion. Unmatched oligoclonal bands in cerebrospinal fluid and occurrence of new abnormal hypersignals on the following MRI led us to diagnose MS.
Conclusion: FAS may be the first symptom of MS. It could result from extensive disturbances of brain function involving the right hemisphere.