Idiopathic cortical myoclonus restricted to the lower limbs: correlation between MEPs and 99mTc-ECD single photon emission computed tomography activation study

J Neurol Sci. 1999 Feb 1;163(1):58-60. doi: 10.1016/s0022-510x(98)00326-8.

Abstract

We report a 63-year-old woman with cortical reflex myoclonus restricted to the bilateral lower limbs. Somatosensory evoked cortical potentials to posterior tibial nerve stimulation were enlarged with C-responses. Jerk-locked back averaging of the EEG identified a cortical spike related to myoclonic jerks. Motor evoked potentials recorded from the abductor hallucis muscle showed an exaggerated late response. These findings suggest hyperexcitability of the sensorimotor cortex. 99mTc-ECD single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) after stimulation of the posterior tibial nerve showed increased perfusion in the contralateral peri-Rolandic area which corresponded to the hyperexcitable region. A SPECT activation study as well as MEPs therefore can be employed to determine the hyperexcitable region in cortical myoclonus.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Brain / blood supply
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging*
  • Cerebrovascular Circulation
  • Cysteine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Electric Stimulation
  • Electromyography
  • Evoked Potentials, Motor*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leg
  • Median Nerve / physiopathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Muscle, Skeletal / innervation
  • Muscle, Skeletal / physiopathology*
  • Myoclonus / diagnostic imaging*
  • Myoclonus / physiopathology*
  • Organotechnetium Compounds*
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Regional Blood Flow
  • Tibial Nerve / physiopathology
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon / methods

Substances

  • Organotechnetium Compounds
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • technetium Tc 99m bicisate
  • Cysteine