Acessibilidade / Reportar erro

Parkinsonism associated to brain tumor: case report

We are presenting an uncommon case of cerebral tumor whose major manifestation was parkinsonism. The patient was a 50-year-old woman presented with a 5-month history of tremor of the right hand, particularly at rest, and headache. On neurological examination of March, 1987 there were: slight right-sided hemiparesis with symmetrical hiperreflexia; discrete bradykinesia in combination with cogwheel rigidity also on the right-side; resting tremor of the right hand; and bilateral papilledema. The neuropsycho-logycal examination disclosed: nominative aphasia, impaired recent memory and right-left disorientation. The computed tomography showed a large, left frontotemporal tumor. Angiograms of the left internal and external carotid arteries revealed a tumor blush in the left frontotemporal region supplied by a enlarged middle meningeal artery. An electromyogram revealed a 4-6 HZ tremor on right hand. A course of treatment with dexametasone 16mg/day and levodopa plus benzerazine (500mg/day) was unsuccessful. A left fronto-temporo-parietal craniotomy was performed and an attached sphenoid wing tumor was mtacroseopically completely removed. Microscopy indicated that the tumor was a meningioma. Postoperativelly, the patient made an uneventful recovery. After two weeks, her right-sided palsy and parkinsonism had disappeared, and neuropsyehologyeal deficits improved. Two months later there was no abnormalities on neurological and neuropsyehologycal examination. It was concluded that the parkinsonism was caused by mechanical pressure on the basal ganglia.


Academia Brasileira de Neurologia - ABNEURO R. Vergueiro, 1353 sl.1404 - Ed. Top Towers Offices Torre Norte, 04101-000 São Paulo SP Brazil, Tel.: +55 11 5084-9463 | +55 11 5083-3876 - São Paulo - SP - Brazil
E-mail: revista.arquivos@abneuro.org