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Beucler N, Boissonneau S, Ruf A, Fuentes S, Carron R, Dufour H. Crossed brainstem syndrome revealing bleeding brainstem cavernous malformation: an illustrative case. BMC Neurol 2021; 21:204. [PMID: 34016062 PMCID: PMC8136125 DOI: 10.1186/s12883-021-02223-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Since the nineteenth century, a great variety of crossed brainstem syndromes (CBS) have been described in the medical literature. A CBS typically combines ipsilateral cranial nerves deficits to contralateral long tracts involvement such as hemiparesis or hemianesthesia. Classical CBS seem in fact not to be so clear-cut entities with up to 20% of patients showing different or unnamed combinations of crossed symptoms. In terms of etiologies, acute brainstem infarction predominates but CBS secondary to hemorrhage, neoplasm, abscess, and demyelination have been described. The aim of this study was to assess the proportion of CBS caused by a bleeding episode arising from a brainstem cavernous malformation (BCM) reported in the literature. CASE PRESENTATION We present the case of a typical Foville syndrome in a 65-year-old man that was caused by a pontine BCM with extralesional bleeding. Following the first bleeding episode, a conservative management was decided but the patient had eventually to be operated on soon after the second bleeding event. DISCUSSION A literature review was conducted focusing on the five most common CBS (Benedikt, Weber, Foville, Millard-Gubler, Wallenberg) on Medline database from inception to 2020. According to the literature, hemorrhagic BCM account for approximately 7 % of CBS. Microsurgical excision may be indicated after the second bleeding episode but needs to be carefully weighted up against the risks of the surgical procedure and openly discussed with the patient. CONCLUSIONS In the setting of a CBS, neuroimaging work-up may not infrequently reveal a BCM requiring complex multidisciplinary team management including neurosurgical advice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Beucler
- Department of Neurosurgery, Timone University Hospital, APHM, 264 rue Saint-Pierre, 13005, Marseille, France. .,Ecole du Val-de-Grâce, French Military Health Service Academy, 1 place Alphonse Laveran, 75230, Paris Cedex 5, France.
| | - Sébastien Boissonneau
- Department of Neurosurgery, Timone University Hospital, APHM, 264 rue Saint-Pierre, 13005, Marseille, France.,Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, INS, Inst Neurosci Syst, Marseille, France
| | - Aurélia Ruf
- Emergency Department, Timone University Hospital, APHM, 264 Rue Saint-Pierre, 13005, Marseille, France
| | - Stéphane Fuentes
- Department of Neurosurgery, Timone University Hospital, APHM, 264 rue Saint-Pierre, 13005, Marseille, France
| | - Romain Carron
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, INS, Inst Neurosci Syst, Marseille, France.,Department of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, Timone University Hospital, APHM, 264 rue Saint-Pierre, 13005, Marseille, France
| | - Henry Dufour
- Department of Neurosurgery, Timone University Hospital, APHM, 264 rue Saint-Pierre, 13005, Marseille, France.,Aix-Marseille Univ, INSERM, MMG, Marseille, France
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Cheng G, Yang Y, Wang Y, Tan H, Zhang S. Deep brain stimulation of the thalamic ventral intermediate nucleus for Benedikt's syndrome mainly present as tremor: a long-term case observation. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2018; 160:1349-1353. [PMID: 29600395 DOI: 10.1007/s00701-018-3526-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2018] [Accepted: 03/21/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Benedikt's syndrome (BS) is caused by the lesion in the midbrain and specifically manifests a series of symptoms, including ipsilateral third nerve palsy, contralateral tremor, hemiataxia, and hyperactive tendon reflexes. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) for BS emerges as a new approach and achieves successfully results. We report a successful case report of thalamic ventral intermediate (VIM) nucleus DBS for a patient with BS. During follow-up of 3 years, DBS successfully control the tremor and greatly improve his living and working quality. We consider that VIM DBS may have sustained benefit for refractory BS that mainly presents as tremor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoxiong Cheng
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Yuan Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 37 Guoxue Alley, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Yuelong Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 37 Guoxue Alley, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Hongyu Tan
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Shizhen Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510260, China.
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The long-term surgical outcomes of secondary hemidystonia associated with post-traumatic brain injury. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2012; 154:823-30. [PMID: 22367408 DOI: 10.1007/s00701-012-1306-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2011] [Accepted: 02/07/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim was to assess the effect of deep brain stimulation for secondary hemidystonias associated with focal post-traumatic brain injuries. METHODS Four patients underwent deep brain stimulation for the treatment of medically refractory secondary hemidystonia associated with post-traumatic brain injury. Clinical outcome assessments were based on Burke-Fahn-Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale movement and disability scores. Health-related quality of life was assessed using a 36-item short-form general health survey questionnaire administered preoperatively and at the last follow-up visit. RESULTS Burke-Fahn-Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale movement scores had improved by 73.2% (range, 38.1-94.1) and disability scores had improved by 75% (range, 60-100) at the 2-year follow-up visit. The health-related quality of life assessment revealed satisfactory results at follow-up, such that body pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, as well as emotional and mental health improved significantly. CONCLUSIONS Globus pallidus internus deep brain stimulation can be used to modulate and ameliorate secondary hemidystonia associated with focal post-traumatic brain injury.
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Kang DW, Kang JH, Lee MS, Chang JW. Posttraumatic Hemidystonia Treated with Unilateral Globus Pallidus Interna Stimulation: Long-Term Follow-up and Radiologic Features. Neuromodulation 2010; 13:261-4. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1525-1403.2010.00306.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Abstract
Tremor in childhood is not commonly described in the literature; but it is also likely underappreciated. The etiology of childhood tremor encompasses a wide variety of pathologic processes. Tremor may occur in isolation, or in association with other neurologic findings or systemic disorders. This article aims to provide an overview of tremorogenic mechanisms with respect to neuroanatomy and neurophysiology, particularly as they relate to children. Classification of tremors, diagnostic entities in childhood, and treatment will also be discussed. With improved recognition and characterization of childhood tremors, we may gain a better understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease and determine more age-appropriate treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Keller
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Child Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, The Children's Hospital of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA.
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Hamasaki T, Yamada K, Kuratsu JI. Hemidystonia secondary to thalamic hemorrhage treated with GPi stimulation. Mov Disord 2008; 23:1762-6. [DOI: 10.1002/mds.22183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
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Abstract
Hemidystonia is a clinical presentation of many pathological conditions that can affect the basal ganglia. It is usually a refractory condition to current medical treatment. Recently, stereotactic procedures such as radiofrequency lesioning or deep brain stimulation provided hope for patients with dystonia; we are reporting the clinical outcome of a patient with hemidystonia treated with unilateral pallidotomy. A 15-year-old boy with no family history of movement disorders and normal perinatal history is presented. He started to have progressive dystonic contractions in the right hand and extended to involve both the upper and lower extremities in the right side over a period of 3 years. He was subjected to a left-sided posteroventral pallidotomy. Postoperatively, his hemidystonia improved over a period of a few weeks. The Unified Dystonia Rating Scale improved by 84%. He maintained the improvements for the 2-year postoperative follow-up period. No complications were encountered. Clinical presentation, surgical techniques, and surgical results are presented. In conclusion, hemidystonia may significantly respond to a contralateral posteroventral pallidotomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Alkhani
- Division of Neurosurgery, Division of Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
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Paviour DC, Jäger HR, Wilkinson L, Jahanshahi M, Lees AJ. Holmes tremor: Application of modern neuroimaging techniques. Mov Disord 2006; 21:2260-2. [PMID: 17013902 DOI: 10.1002/mds.20981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Holmes tremor has a characteristic rest, intention, and postural component. The syndrome arises as a consequence of a lesion in the upper brainstem and cerebral peduncles, which, it is postulated, interrupts the cerebello-rubrothalamic pathway. Ataxia, ophthalmoplegia, and bradykinesia are associated features. We present a case of Holmes tremor secondary to a midbrain cavernoma. Modern neuroimaging techniques in this case confirm that a combination of damage to the cerebello-rubrothalamic pathway and the nigrostriatal pathway is required for the full Holmes tremor syndrome to occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominic C Paviour
- The Sara Koe PSP Research Centre, The Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, United Kingdom.
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Piette T, Mescola P, Henriet M, Cornil C, Jacquy J, Vanderkelen B. Approche chirurgicale d’un tremblement de Holmes associé à un tremblement synchrone de haute fréquence. Rev Neurol (Paris) 2004; 160:707-11. [PMID: 15247862 DOI: 10.1016/s0035-3787(04)71023-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The effectiveness of thalamic stimulation is now clearly demonstrated for essential tremor, but remains to be demonstrated for other types of tremor. OBSERVATION A young woman presented Holmes' tremor resulting from a pontine tegmental hemorrhage related to an arteriovenous malformation. A surgical approach was considered when major functional impairment persisted at 2-year follow-up despite drug therapy. The patient underwent unilateral thalamic deep brain stimulation (Vim); major improvement persisted at eighteen months follow-up. CONCLUSION This observation is in line with previous reports suggesting that thalamic surgery can be one of the best options for treating medically intractable Holmes' tremor. The mechanism underlying the tremor, implying dentate-rubro-thalamic pathways is discussed. Moreover, the patient exhibited short periods of 16Hz tremor when her arms were maintained outstretched. Thalamic stimulation also appears to be effective for these high-frequency synchronous cerebellar bursts.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Piette
- Service de Neurologie, ISPPC, Charleroi, Belgique.
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Abstract
Patients with nonparkinsonian tremors are the second largest group treated with functional neurosurgery. We summarize the present pathophysiological knowledge of these conditions. Essential tremor (ET) may be due to oscillations within the olivocerebellar circuit. There is experimental evidence from animal models for such a mechanism, and clinical data indicate an abnormal function of the cerebellum in ET. Cerebellar tremor may be closely related to the tremor seen in advanced ET. The malfunction of the cerebellum causes a pathological feed-forward control. Additionally an oscillator within the cerebellum or its input/output pathways may cause cerebellar tremor. Almost nothing is known about the pathophysiology of dystonic tremor. Holmes tremor is based on a nigral and a cerebellar malfunction and presents clinically as the combination of tremor in Parkinson's disease and cerebellar tremor. Neuropathic tremor can be extremely disabling and is thought to be due to an abnormal interaction of the disturbances within the periphery and abnormal cerebellar feedback. Unlike the case of Parkinson's disease, functional neurosurgery of nonparkinsonian tremors is not yet based on a solid pathophysiological background.
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Affiliation(s)
- Günther Deuschl
- Department of Neurology, Christian-Albrechts-Universität, Kiel, Germany.
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Chuang C, Fahn S, Frucht SJ. The natural history and treatment of acquired hemidystonia: report of 33 cases and review of the literature. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2002; 72:59-67. [PMID: 11784827 PMCID: PMC1737703 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.72.1.59] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the natural history and response to treatment in hemidystonia. METHODS 190 Cases of hemidystonia were identified; 33 patients in this series and 157 from the world literature. Data was collected on aetiology, age of onset, latency, lesion location, and response to treatment. RESULTS The most common aetiologies of hemidystonia were stroke, trauma, and perinatal injury. Mean age of onset was 20 years in this series and 25.7 years in the literature. The average latency from insult to dystonia was 4.1 years in this series and 2.8 years in the literature, with the longest latencies occurring after perinatal injury. Basal ganglia lesions were identified in 48% of cases in this series and 60% of the cases in the literature, most commonly involving the putamen. Patients experienced benefit from medical therapy in only 26% of medication trials in this series and in only 35% of trials in the literature. In the patients reported here, the benzodiazepines clonazepam and diazepam were the most effective medications with 50% of trials resulting in at least some benefit. In the literature, anticholinergic drugs were most effective with 41% of trials resulting in benefit. Surgery was successful in five of six cases in this series and in 22 of 23 cases in the literature. However, in 12 cases, results were transient. CONCLUSIONS The most common cause of hemidystonia is stroke, with the lesion most commonly involving the basal ganglia. Hemidystonia responds poorly to most medical therapies, but some patients may benefit from treatment with benzodiazepines or anticholinergic drugs. Surgical therapy may be successful but benefit is often transient.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Chuang
- The Neurological Institute, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, 710 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA.
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Abstract
Tremor is defined as rhythmic oscillatory activity of body parts. Four physiological basic mechanisms for such oscillatory activity have been described: mechanical oscillations; oscillations based on reflexes; oscillations due to central neuronal pacemakers; and oscillations because of disturbed feedforward or feedback loops. New methodological approaches with animal models, positron emission tomography, and mathematical analysis of electromyographic and electroencephalographic signals have provided new insights into the mechanisms underlying specific forms of tremor. Physiological tremor is due to mechanical and central components. Psychogenic tremor is considered to depend on a clonus mechanism and is thus believed to be mediated by reflex mechanisms. Symptomatic palatal tremor is most likely due to rhythmic activity of the inferior olive, and there is much evidence that essential tremor is also generated within the olivocerebellar circuits. Orthostatic tremor is likely to originate in hitherto unidentified brainstem nuclei. Rest tremor of Parkinson's disease is probably generated in the basal ganglia loop, and dystonic tremor may also originate within the basal ganglia. Cerebellar tremor is at least in part caused by a disturbance of the cerebellar feedforward control of voluntary movements, and Holmes' tremor is due to the combination of the mechanisms producing parkinsonian and cerebellar tremor. Neuropathic tremor is believed to be caused by abnormally functioning reflex pathways and a wide variety of causes underlies toxic and drug-induced tremors. The understanding of the pathophysiology of tremor has made significant progress but many hypotheses are not yet based on sufficient data. Modern neurology needs to develop and test such hypotheses, because this is the only way to develop rational medical and surgical therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Deuschl
- Department of Neurology, Christian-Albrechts-Universität, Niemannsweg 147, D-24105 Kiel, Germany.
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