Bizarre posture and movement disorder with third ventricle astrocytoma

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Pediatric Neurology
• Neuro-oncology

Background:

• Astasia-abasia, a rare disorder characterized by inability to stand or walk, is often associated with psychological factors.
• Midline brain lesions can present with diverse and unusual neurological symptoms.

Observation:

• An eight-year-old girl exhibited a peculiar gait and posture, diagnosed as hysterical astasia-abasia.
• Her symptoms included significant lordosis and head hyperextension, with a tendency to walk backward for support.

Findings:

• A midline astrocytoma was identified as the underlying cause of her symptoms.
• Surgical removal of the tumor resulted in complete resolution of the astasia-abasia.

Implications:

• This case highlights the importance of considering organic brain lesions in the differential diagnosis of astasia-abasia, even in pediatric patients.
• It underscores the varied clinical presentations of midline brain tumors and the potential for complete recovery with timely intervention.