Türk Nöroşirürji Dergisi
2004 , Vol 14 , Num 2
Invoulantry Laughter as a Presenting Symptom of Petroclival Meningioma: Case Report
Uludağ Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Nöroşirürji Anabilim Dalı, Bursa
This article is a case report of a 35-year old female of petroclival meningioma
that presented with the symptom of excessive laughter. One year after onset of
the involuntary laughter, she presented to the neurologist because of right-sided
facial hypoestesia and right mild facial nerve paresis. Magnetic resonance
imaging revealed a large petroclival meningioma on the right side. Tumor was
removed via suboccipital retrosigmoid approach. The symptom of involuntaryexcessive
laughter disappeared immediately and the symptom of depressive
mood dominated. Involuntary-excessive laughter as a presenting symptom and
localizing value of petroclival meningiomas is extremely rare. In this article, we
reported that extra-axial compression of the upper brainstem may influence
supranucleer connections through the cortical and limbic systems and may
cause excessive laughter.
Anahtar Kelimeler :
Involuntary laughter, petroclival meningioma, retrosigmoid suboccipital approach