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Brainstem auditory evoked potentials in 20 patients with palatal myoclonus.
Archives of Neurology
|March 1, 1983
Summary
Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) can be normal in palatal myoclonus patients. Discrete brainstem lesions may spare auditory pathways, while diffuse lesions often cause abnormal BAEPs.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neurophysiology
Background:
- Palatal myoclonus is an involuntary movement disorder affecting the soft palate.
- Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) assess the integrity of the auditory pathway from the cochlea to the brainstem.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the utility of BAEPs in patients diagnosed with palatal myoclonus.
- To correlate BAEP findings with the underlying etiology of palatal myoclonus.
Main Methods:
- BAEPs were recorded in 20 patients with palatal myoclonus.
- Etiologies of palatal myoclonus were documented, including head trauma, infarcts, tumors, and degenerative processes.
Main Results:
- Six out of 20 patients exhibited abnormal BAEPs.
- Abnormal BAEPs were associated with specific brainstem pathologies like trauma, infarct, tumor, demyelination, or inflammatory processes.
- Normal BAEPs were observed in patients with palatal myoclonus secondary to various causes, including trauma, infarcts, tumors, degenerative conditions, and Arnold-Chiari malformation.
Conclusions:
- Palatal myoclonus can occur with normal BAEPs, suggesting auditory pathway sparing.
- Discrete brainstem lesions are more likely to present with normal BAEPs compared to diffuse or multifocal brainstem lesions.