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Abstract Details

Foix-Chavany-Marie Syndrome Caused by Unilateral Frontal Opercular Infarction: A Case Report
Cerebrovascular Disease and Interventional Neurology
Cerebrovascular Disease and Interventional Neurology Posters (7:00 AM-5:00 PM)
249

To report an extremely rare case of Foix-Chavany-Marie Syndrome (FCMS) caused by acute unilateral frontal opercular infarction with preexisting bilateral leukoaraiosis.

FCMS is a rare syndrome of bilateral corticobulbar palsy characterized by impairments of facio-masticatory-pharyngo-glosso-laryngeal voluntary movement with preservation of automatic and involuntary movements. FCMS is typically caused by vascular insults on the bilateral anterior opercular or adjacent subcortical areas. Acute onset of FCMS secondary to a unilateral lesion is extremely rare.

Case report

An 83-year-old right-handed, Hispanic woman with history of hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and prior right frontal lobe infarction without residual deficits presented with sudden onset of severe dysarthria, dysphagia and left facio-brachio-crural weakness. Initial neurological examination revealed severe spastic dysarthria, left upper motor neuron type of facial paralysis, left tongue deviation and left-sided hemiparesis. Her mouth was half open and she could not close it when asked to do so but could close it spontaneously and when she smiled. Sneezing and yawning were intact. She had no aphasia, alexia or agraphia. A formal swallowing evaluation confirmed severe oropharyngeal dysphagia. MRI brain showed acute infarction on the right frontal operculum and preexisting extensive bilateral leukoaraiosis. No evidence of brainstem lesion was seen on the MRI. Diagnostic work up including lipid panel, CT angiogram head and neck, echocardiogram, and telemetry were unremarkable. She was treated with aspirin and atorvastatin for secondary stroke prevention. During the two-week follow-up, her speech, swallowing function, and voluntary facial movements partially improved. 

Acute unilateral anterior opercular lesion can decompensate the preexisting bilateral or contralateral corticobulbar-subcortical lesions and causes the typical features of FCMS. Our case demonstrates a favorable recovery of FCMS secondary to a unilateral lesion compared to bilateral lesions. 

 

Authors/Disclosures
Jie Pan, MD (torrance memorial)
PRESENTER
Dr. Pan has nothing to disclose.
Katherine Rivas, MD (Texas Tech) Dr. Rivas has nothing to disclose.
Parunyou Julayanont, MD (Department of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute) Dr. Julayanont has nothing to disclose.