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Trigeminal schwannoma associated with pathological laughter and crying
1Department of Neurosurgery, Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai, 400 026, India.
Neurology India
|July 12, 2001
Summary
Trigeminal schwannoma, a rare tumor, caused pathological laughter and crying in a patient. Surgical removal of the cerebellopontine angle tumor resolved these emotional outbursts, suggesting a direct link.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Neurology
- Neurosurgery
Background:
- Trigeminal schwannomas are rare tumors originating from the Schwann cells of the trigeminal nerve.
- These tumors can cause a variety of neurological symptoms depending on their location and size.
- Pathological laughter and crying are involuntary emotional expressions often associated with neurological dysfunction.
Observation:
- A 46-year-old male presented with ataxia, pathological laughter, and crying.
- Imaging revealed a trigeminal schwannoma in the cerebellopontine angle, compressing adjacent brain structures.
- The patient experienced resolution of emotional lability after complete tumor resection.
Findings:
- The trigeminal schwannoma was surgically removed in its entirety.
- Post-operative follow-up showed no recurrence of pathological laughter or crying.
- This case highlights a potential correlation between cerebellopontine angle tumors and emotional dysregulation.
Implications:
- Surgical resection of trigeminal schwannomas can effectively treat associated neurological and emotional symptoms.
- Understanding the anatomical relationships between the tumor and affected brain regions is crucial for surgical planning.
- This case contributes to the literature on the neurobiological underpinnings of pathological emotional expression.
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