ABSTRACT
Infectious diseases of the central nervous system vary in frequency in different locations in America and Europe. What is common in Brazil can be a sporadic presentation in Europe. Cooperative work gathering experiences from neuroradiologists working in various places can be achieved and will help to identify uncommon cases that can present in our daily practice.
ABSTRACT
The authors report the clinical and angiographical findings of two cases of familial hemifacial spasm. This is the fifth description in the literature and presents mother and daughter at the ages of 76 and 51 respectively, in whom the left side was affected. They underwent exams of angioresonance that showed dolichobasilar with left side origin in both patients. The exams also demonstrated postero-inferior cerebellar artery very developed and irregularities in the walls of the vertebral and basilar arteries suggestive of arteriosclerosis in the mother and slightly elongated intracranial vessels in the daughter. Literature review and etiology data of the hemifacial spasm are focused.
Subject(s)
Hemifacial Spasm/genetics , Aged , Botulinum Toxins, Type A/therapeutic use , Female , Hemifacial Spasm/diagnosis , Hemifacial Spasm/drug therapy , Humans , Magnetic Resonance Angiography , Middle Aged , Neuromuscular Agents/therapeutic useABSTRACT
Nine patients with "idiopathic" hemifacial spasm were evaluated with cranial magnetic resonance imaging and angiography. Alterations of the posterior fossa vasculature, possibly related to the facial nerve irritation, were found in 8 patients (88%). Magnetic resonance angiography is a noninvasive procedure and appears to be a sensitive method to evaluate the hemifacial spasm etiology.