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Micrographia due to focal cerebral lesions as seen in the dysarthria-clumsy hand syndrome
Neurology
|January 1, 1994
Abstract:
Five patients with dysarthria-clumsy hand syndrome developed micrographia. Four had lacunar infarctions involving the putamen or the genu of the internal capsule; the fifth patient had a small hemorrhage in the putamen. Micrographia may be a sign of focal cerebral disease, and basal ganglia dysfunction may be involved in the supratentorial dysarthria-clumsy hand syndrome.
Insights
Micrographia, or abnormally small handwriting, can indicate focal brain disease. This study suggests basal ganglia dysfunction may contribute to dysarthria-clumsy hand syndrome.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroscience
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Dysarthria-clumsy hand syndrome is a neurological condition characterized by speech and motor impairments.
- Micrographia, a reduction in handwriting size, has been observed in various neurological disorders.
- The specific neurological underpinnings of micrographia in this syndrome require further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the occurrence and potential causes of micrographia in patients with dysarthria-clumsy hand syndrome.
- To explore the association between basal ganglia dysfunction and the development of micrographia within this syndrome.
Main Methods:
- Case series analysis of five patients diagnosed with dysarthria-clumsy hand syndrome.
- Clinical assessment of micrographia.
- Neuroimaging (MRI/CT) to identify the location and nature of cerebral lesions (lacunar infarctions, hemorrhage).
Main Results:
- All five patients with dysarthria-clumsy hand syndrome exhibited micrographia.
- Four patients had lacunar infarctions in the putamen or internal capsule genu.
- One patient had a putaminal hemorrhage.
Conclusions:
- Micrographia can serve as a clinical sign of focal cerebral disease.
- Basal ganglia dysfunction, particularly involving the putamen, may play a role in the pathophysiology of supratentorial dysarthria-clumsy hand syndrome and associated micrographia.