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Reversible palinacousis from intracranial metastases
Danny Bega1, Nancy Wang1, Joshua P Klein2
1Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
The Neurohospitalist
|January 2, 2014
Summary
Palinacousis, an auditory illusion of echoing sounds, is rare. This case study details a patient with lung cancer experiencing palinacousis due to brain metastases, which resolved with treatment.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Otolaryngology
- Oncology
Background:
- Palinacousis is a rare auditory illusion characterized by the perseveration or echoing of external sounds.
- This symptom is typically associated with lesions in or near the temporal lobes and can occur in ictal, postictal, or nonictal states.
- It is crucial to differentiate palinacousis from auditory hallucinations in psychiatric conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a case of palinacousis in a patient with newly diagnosed metastatic lung adenocarcinoma.
- To investigate the potential cause of palinacousis as intracranial metastases near the auditory cortex.
- To describe the clinical course and treatment outcome of palinacousis in this specific patient population.
Main Methods:
- Case report of a 61-year-old male patient.
- Clinical evaluation including electroencephalogram (EEG).
- Treatment with corticosteroid and whole brain radiation therapy.
Main Results:
- The patient presented with several days of palinacousis.
- EEG revealed bilateral theta slowing over the temporal lobes without epileptiform activity.
- Palinacousis resolved following treatment with corticosteroids and whole brain radiation therapy.
Conclusions:
- Intracranial metastases near the auditory cortex can trigger palinacousis.
- Palinacousis in the context of metastatic lung adenocarcinoma is a treatable condition.
- Multidisciplinary treatment involving corticosteroids and radiation therapy can effectively manage this rare auditory symptom.
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