The Open Neurosurgery Journal

2009, 2 : 4-7
Published online 2009 May 20. DOI: 10.2174/187652970090201004
Publisher ID: TONEUROSJ-2-4

Parkinsonism Related to Brain Tumors: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Takao Yasuhara , Takashi Agari , Hirokazu Kambara , Tomotsugu Ichikawa , Kazuhiko Kurozumi , Shigeki Ono , Yasuyuki Miyoshi , Koji Tokunaga and Isao Date
Department of Neurological surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1, Shikata-cho, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan

ABSTRACT

Parkinsonism related to brain tumor is reviewed with the presentation of our case. Neurosurgeons or neurologists know that some patients with brain tumor present parkinsonism, although further enlightenment is required. The mechanisms are divided into 6 subgroups, 1. direct oppression to the basal ganglia; 2. distortion and stress to the midbrain; 3. neuronal loss in the substantia nigra; 4. involvement of the basal ganglia; 5. damage of the fiber connection between the basal ganglia and supplementary motor area; 6. old age. In the recent 11 years, 16 cases were reported. Pediatric cases, localized cases with relatively small lesion and post-irradiation cases were increasingly reported. The prognoses of brain tumor-related parkinsonism varied and independent of the pathology, location, and therapies of the tumor. All we can do is to select the appropriate therapy including surgical removal of the tumor by the correct estimation of the damaged region.

Keywords:

Basal ganglia, brain stem, pediatric brain tumor, parkinsonism.