Continuous cataplexy in a patient with a midbrain tumor: the limp man syndrome.
A patient with glioblastoma of the rostral brainstem and hypothalamus exhibited bilateral internuclear ophthalmoplegia and vertical nystagmus; he suffered episodes of cataplexy, narcolepsy, and sleep paralysis. A peculiar fluctuation of posture and tone ("limp man syndrome") proved to be a manifestation of continuous cataplexy, as documented by H-reflex recordings. This is the first report of a remarkable movement disorder caused by continuous, fluctuating, partial cataplexy, and is the second report of an association between cataplexy and a tumor of the rostral brainstem.
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002385:Cataplexy / Q000209:etiology*; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009123:Muscle Hypotonia / Q000209:etiology*; D009290:Narcolepsy / Q000209:etiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed