A Case of Transient Cervical Dystonia
 following Cerebellar Hemorrhage

J Korean Neurol Assoc > Volume 16(4); 1998 > Article

Journal of the Korean Neurological Association 1998;16(4): 574-577.

소뇌출혈후 발생한 일과성 경부 이긴장증 1례

이승헌, 김진호·정원영

조선대학교 의과대학 신경과학교실

A Case of Transient Cervical Dystonia following Cerebellar Hemorrhage

Seung Heon Lee, M.D.,Jin Ho Kim, M.D., Won Young Jung, M.D.

Department of Neurology, Chosun University Medical College

Abstract

Background : Cervical dystonia is a focal dystonia characterized by painful spasmodic contractions of the neck muscles, that result in an abnormal posture of the head. Usually the pathogenesis of the disorder is unknown. Secondary cervical dystonia caused by intracranial lesions, involving the basal ganglia, thalamus or brainstem, is very rare. This is the first report of a focal cervical dystonia following cerebellar hemorrhage in Korea. Case : We describe a 77 year-old woman presented with vertigo and vomiting followed by mild ataxia in the right extremities and cervical dystonia. She had a 25-year history of right hemiparesis due to a stroke. On physical examination, her neck turned to the right and tilted to the left shoulder. Polygraphic study revealed continuous muscular contraction of the left sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles without EEG changes. A brain CT scan showed right cerebellar hemorrhage and low density lesions in the left putamen. Conclusion : We reported a rare case of cervical dystonia associated with cerebellar hemorrhage. Because she had an old left putaminal lesion, it is suggested that cervical dystonia seen in our patient may be caused by additional dysfunction of dentatorubrothalamocortical pathway to the pre-existing damage to the striatopallidothalamocortical pathway. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Key Words : Cervical dystonia, Cerebellar hemorrhage, Dantatorubrothalamic pathway