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Writer’s Cramp and Tremor Due to Brain Tumor

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2015

I. Milanov*
Affiliation:
Medical University Hospital – IV klm., Ill Neurological Clinic, Sofia, Bulgaria
D. Georgiev*
Affiliation:
Medical University Hospital – IV klm., Ill Neurological Clinic, Sofia, Bulgaria
*
Medical University Hospital – IV kilometer, III Neurological Clinic, Blvd. Tzarigradsko shosse – IV kilometer. Sofia 1113. Bulgaria
Medical University Hospital – IV kilometer, III Neurological Clinic, Blvd. Tzarigradsko shosse – IV kilometer. Sofia 1113. Bulgaria
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Abstract:

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Writer’s cramp is frequently associated with hand tremor and with other focal dystonias. Sometimes brain infarction, haemorrhage, arterio-venous malformations or tumors are found to cause symptomatic focal dystonias. A 44-year-old man came to our attention due to writer’s cramp of his right hand and postural 6-8 Hz tremor. About three months after the onset of the disease the tremor and dystonia disappeared, while a right hemiparesis gradually appeared. Cranial computed tomography showed a hypodense nonhomogeneous lesion in the left cerebral hemisphere parietally, that was assumed to represent a cystic tumor. The patient underwent craniotomy and the histological diagnosis revealed an astrocytoma (Grade II-III). In conclusion our findings confirm the common anatomical basis of symptomatic focal dystonia and tremor. Both can appear after disruption of the pathways within and adjacent to the basal ganglia.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation 1995

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