Patient Tan revisited: a case of atypical global aphasia?

Broca's first patient presented in support of a relationship between a lesion of the frontal lobe and aphasia was patient Tan. Although Pierre Marie refers to this case as "indisputably aphasia of Broca," the clinical diagnosis of Tan's aphasia has not been re-examined in light of current clinical criteria. Superficially, the patient's extremely limited verbal output and intact comprehension appear to fit with the diagnosis of Broca's aphasia, but a more thorough examination of the onset, evolution and nature of the patient's speech symptoms suggests alternate interpretations. Contemporary evidence in support of a robust relationship between stereotypical utterances and Global aphasia suggests that patient Tan may have suffered from a Global rather than Broca's aphasia.     

Authors’ Response

Broca’s first patient presented in support of a relationship between a lesion of the frontal lobe and aphasia was patient Tan. Although Pierre Marie refers to this case as “indisputably aphasia of Broca,’” the clinical diagnosis of Tan’s aphasia has not been re-examined in light of current clinical criteria. Superficially, the patient’s extremely limited verbal output and intact comprehension appear to fit with the diagnosis of Broca’s aphasia, but a more thorough examination of the onset, evolution and nature of the patient’s speech symptoms suggests alternate interpretations. Contemporary evidence in support of a robust relationship between stereotypical utterances and Global aphasia suggests that patient Tan may have suffered from a Global rather than Broca’s aphasia.