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Monocular Torsional Oscillopsia in Dentato-olivary Disconnection

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Abstract

Monocular torsional eye oscillations are a rare form of disconjugate nystagmus and the underlying pathophysiology is not well understood. Here, we present and discuss a case with disabling torsional oscillopsia in one eye only. The patient exhibited (i) spontaneous pendular torsional nystagmus of the left eye and (ii) rhythmic involuntary movements of the soft palate and uvula, consistent with the syndrome of oculopalatal tremor with monocular nystagmus. Brain MRI revealed an infarct of the left dentate nucleus in the cerebellum and, more caudally, a secondary hypertrophic degeneration of the right inferior olivary nucleus. To account for the presence of torsional nystagmus on the eye contralateral to the side of inferior olivary hypertrophy and ipsilateral to the lesioned dentate nucleus, we discuss the hypothesis of a (inferior olivary nucleus-mediated) malfunctioning adaptation of the anterior canal vestibulo-ocular reflex.

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Data Availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Eginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Vas. Sophias Avenue 74, 11528, Athens, Greece

    Evangelos Anagnostou, Stathis Gerakoulis & Georgios Armenis

  2. Research Unit of Radiology–2nd Department of Radiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    Athena Zachou & Georgios Velonakis

Authors
  1. Evangelos Anagnostou
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  2. Stathis Gerakoulis
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  3. Georgios Armenis
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  4. Athena Zachou
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  5. Georgios Velonakis
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Contributions

E.A.: study conception and design, manuscript preparation.

S.G: study conception and design, manuscript preparation

G.A.: study conception and design, manuscript preparation.

A.Z.: study conception and design, final approval of manuscript.

G.V..: study conception and design, manuscript preparation.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Evangelos Anagnostou.

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Ethical Approval

The study was performed in accordance with the ethical standards laid down in the Declaration of Helsinki (1964).

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The informed and written consent for publication of the data and videos was obtained from the patient.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Anagnostou, E., Gerakoulis, S., Armenis, G. et al. Monocular Torsional Oscillopsia in Dentato-olivary Disconnection. Cerebellum (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12311-023-01626-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12311-023-01626-1

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