Parkinsonism after external ventricular drainage in a patient with intraventricular hemorrhage

We report a patient who presented with Parkinsonism after external ventricular drainage (EVD) for an intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH). We also demonstrate dopaminergic system dysfunction using (18)F-florinated-N-3-fluoropropyl-2-β-carboxymethoxy-3-β-(4-lodophenyl) nortropane ((18)F-FP-CIT) positron emission tomography (PET) scanning. A 50-year-old woman presented with manifestations of Parkinsonism, including severe rigidity and 3-Hz resting tremor, immediately after EVD for IVH. (18)F-FP-CIT PET images at 6 months after onset showed dysfunction of the bilateral caudate nuclei and putamen after EVD that seemed to have induced Parkinsonism, although no lesion was observed in those areas on either conventional computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. With a dose of 300/1200 mg/day carbidopa/levodopa, the rigidity of both upper and lower extremities was significantly reduced, and the tremor completely disappeared. The decreased rigidity also improved the activities of daily living performance. In summary, a patient developed Parkinsonism after EVD for IVH, and we demonstrated dopaminergic system dysfunction on (18)F-FP-CIT PET images. Clinicians should pay particular attention to the occurrence of Parkinsonism when performing procedures that can reduce intraventricular pressure.