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Cerebellar tumour presenting with pathological laughter and gelastic syncope
G Famularo1, F M Corsi, G Minisola
1Department of Internal Medicine, San Camillo Hospital, Rome, Italy. gfamularo@scamilloforlanini.rm.it
European Journal of Neurology
|July 31, 2007
Summary
Pathological laughter and gelastic syncope, previously unlinked to consciousness loss, were associated with a cerebellar ependymoma. This rare case suggests these symptoms may indicate a cerebellar disorder.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuro-oncology
- Pathology
Background:
- Pathological laughter involves uncontrollable laughter episodes triggered by unrelated stimuli.
- Gelastic syncope is a rare condition involving loss of consciousness linked to laughter.
- No prior reports linked pathological laughter and gelastic syncope to a specific neurological disorder.
Observation:
- A 53-year-old man experienced syncope after intense, uncoordinated laughter.
- Physical and neurological examinations were normal, with no other cerebellar signs.
- A mass was identified in the cerebellar vermis near the fourth ventricle.
Findings:
- Surgical removal of the mass revealed it to be an ependymoma.
- The patient's symptoms of pathological laughter and syncope resolved post-surgery.
- This case establishes a link between cerebellar ependymoma and gelastic syncope.
Implications:
- Pathological laughter and gelastic syncope may be unique indicators of cerebellar disorders.
- Cerebellar tumors should be considered in the differential diagnosis of unexplained gelastic syncope.
- This finding expands the clinical presentation spectrum of cerebellar ependymomas.
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