[Pathologic spontaneous activity in a foramen magnum meningioma]

The case history over five years of a finally completely tetraplegic patient is described, in whose plegic muscles massive occurrence of positive sharp waves and fibrillation potentials could be found together with normal neurographic parameters. The mediosagittal MRT of the brainstem gave evidence of a tumor in the craniocervical region. The patient could be discharged in healthy condition ten weeks after removal of a foramen magnum meningioma. Evidence of so-called denervation activity was no longer present. For the clinical neurologist as well as for the electromyographer it is equally important to know that positive sharp waves and fibrillation potentials can also occur in central lesions.