Left Parietal Tumors Presenting with Smartphone Icon Visual Agnosia: Two Cases of a Modern Presentation of Gerstmann Syndrome

Background: Gerstmanns syndrome—a clinical constellation of left-right confusion, finger agnosia, agraphia, and acalculia—is frequently attributed to pathology in the dominant inferior parietal lobe or temporo-occipital region. However, these unique clinical findings are often accompanied by more subtle signs, including aphasias, neglect, and agnosias. Associative visual agnosia, in which a patient is able to accurately perceive and describe but not recognize an object or symbol, is a well-documented but infrequently observed clinical entity. Case Description: Here we detail 2 unique cases of patients who presented with the inability to recognize and use smartphone application icons. Both were found to have left temporo-occipital tumors displacing the left temporo-parietooccipital cortex. Conclusions: In the era of pervasive technology, we emphasize that smartphone icon associative visual agnosias may be recognized by discerning physicians in the clinical diagnosis of dominant parietal lobe pathology.