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Lesion of the dorsorostral midbrain sparing the nigrostriatal tract mimics axial rigidity seen in progressive supranuclear palsy
Author(s) -
Lewerenz Jan,
Zurowski Bartosz,
Jenicke Lars,
Bäumer Tobias,
Lees Andrew J.,
Münchau Alexander
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
movement disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.352
H-Index - 198
eISSN - 1531-8257
pISSN - 0885-3185
DOI - 10.1002/mds.20484
Subject(s) - midbrain , progressive supranuclear palsy , dopamine transporter , lesion , nigrostriatal pathway , basal ganglia , dopaminergic , dopamine , resting tremor , parkinson's disease , neuroscience , medicine , pathology , substantia nigra , anatomy , psychology , central nervous system , disease
We report on a patient with a residual dorsorostral midbrain lesion after resection of a pineal gland tumor. In addition to severe vertical gaze palsy, this patient exhibited other neurological features closely resembling progressive supranuclear palsy. Normal dopamine transporter single‐photon emission computed tomography imaging excluded significant dopamine deficiency. We suggest that dorsorostral midbrain pathology rather than dopamine deficiency due to degeneration of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons or basal ganglia nuclei might be responsible for axial rigidity in extension. © 2005 Movement Disorder Society