Hemimasticatory and hemifacial spasm: a common pathophysiology?
The case is described of a 60-year-old woman with a 4-year history of left hemimasticatory spasm. Detailed electrophysiological studies are compared with those from 6 patients with typical idiopathic hemifacial spasm. On the basis of comparable patterns of EMG activity in the 2 conditions, it is concluded that they may have both a common pathophysiology and a peripheral site of involvement.
D000368:Aged; D001767:Blinking; D004576:Electromyography; D005152:Facial Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy; D008297:Male; D008410:Masticatory Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012021:Reflex, Abnormal; D013035:Spasm / Q000503:physiopathology*