PubMed · 16908751
Essential tremor associated with pathologic changes in the cerebellum.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Although essential tremor (ET) is one of the most common neurologic disorders, there have been few postmortem studies. We recently reported postmortem changes (torpedoes and Bergmann gliosis) in the cerebellar cortex in a few ET cases. OBJECTIVE: To describe more extensive postmortem changes in the cerebellum in another ET case. DESIGN: Case report. RESULTS: A 90-year-old woman had a 30-year history of ET. At postmortem examination, there was segmental loss of Purkinje cells, presence of torpedoes, and Bergmann gliosis in the cerebellar cortex. Moreover, there were extensive changes in the dentate nucleus, in the form of neuronal loss, neuronal atrophy, microglial clusters, and reduction in the number of efferent fibers (ie, pallor of the hilum). CONCLUSIONS: The brain in the current case exhibited more marked cerebellar pathologic features than noted in previously reported ET cases and thereby extends the described cerebellar findings in this common, yet pathologically poorly characterized, neurologic disorder.
Explore related subjects
Keep this discovery
Explore connections, maps & timelines
Elan D Louis, Jean Paul G Vonsattel, Lawrence S Honig, Arlene Lawton, Carol Moskowitz, Blair Ford, Steven Frucht. 2006. Essential tremor associated with pathologic changes in the cerebellum.. https://doi.org/10.1001/archneur.63.8.1189
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.