Hemi-chorea: an unusual presentation of brainstem glioma

Brainstem gliomas are neoplasms primarily affecting children. Depending on the type, they usually present with varying combination of multiple bilateral or unilateral cranial nerve palsies, long-tract signs, ataxia and sometimes hydrocephalus. Though movement disorders have been reported in association with basal ganglia and thalamic tumours, hemi-chorea, as a presentation of brainstem glioma, has not been reported till date. I present a case of a 9-year-old female child, who presented with complaints of difficulty in walking and involuntary movements affecting the left upper and lower limb. On examination, she had chorea involving left side of the body, bilateral lateral rectus palsy, with spasticity of right upper and lower limb. CT scan and MRI of the brain showed focal glioma involving the upper pons and midbrain. The patient underwent surgery in the form of sub-occipital craniotomy and tumour removal. Postoperative imaging studies showed no residual tumour. Histopathological examination was suggestive of pilocytic astrocytoma grade 1. Postoperatively hemi-chorea decreased in intensity, but did not disappear completely.