Pseudoathetosis caused by migrated cervical disc.

ABSTRACT

Although pseudoathetosis has been described in various conditions, it has been rarely reported in patients with epidural lesions. We report the first case of a patient with pseudoathetosis caused by a migrated cervical disc. The patient was a 76-year-old woman who presented with progressive clumsiness of the hands and athetotic movements. Electrophysiological studies revealed normal peripheral nerve conduction and delayed and attenuated cortical SEPs. Spinal MRI revealed an epidural mass with gadolinium enhancement at the C3-4 level. An anterior cervical surgery disclosed a migrated disc, and its removal resulted in a marked improvement. Migrated cervical disc should be considered in patients with a profound sensory loss and pseudoathetosis in the hands, because this condition is treatable.