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Cerebellopontine Angle Tumors: Bilateral Flocculus Compression as Cause of Associated Oculomotor Abnormalities
Author(s) -
Nedzelski Julian M.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1002/lary.1983.93.10.1251
Subject(s) - flocculus , cerebellopontine angle , optokinetic reflex , gaze , nystagmus , saccade , eye movement , medicine , psychology , neuroscience , ophthalmology , audiology , radiology , magnetic resonance imaging , psychoanalysis
Oculomotor abnormalities of pursuit, OKN, gaze as well as saccade are frequently found in patients with large cerebellopontine angle tumors. Evidence is presented in support of the proposition that bilateral flocculus compression is likely responsible for the majority of oculomotor abnormalities noted in these patients. An hypothesis for the genesis of Bruns' as well as bilateral gaze paretic nystagmus is put forward. Successful tumor removal implies that pursuit and optokinetic nystagmus are more sensitive than the other oculomotor functions to the compressive effects of a cerebellopontine angle mass.