[Opsoclonus and associated neurologic disorders. General review and commentary on a case]

A case report on a young man who developed after cranial trauma a typical opsoclonus and neurological symptoms dominated by left sensory hemiparesis of the thalamic type; this deficit affected all sensory modalities and involved the whole of the left side, with disturbances of motility caused by impairment of sensation. A general review of opsoclonus is presented and supported by various neurological tables. The discussion on aetiology takes into account the frequent benign causes (encephalitic syndromes, ataxic forms of poliomyelitis), but also the possibility of serious lesions developing in the cerebellum and cerebrum; and finally there remain a number of cases of unknown aetiology. Clinical observations of opsoclonus are rare, and anatomical data is still less; this is why physiopathological interpretations, the object of interesting discussions, are only reached with wisdom.