Velo-pharyngo-laryngeal myoclonus: evaluation of objective tinnitus and extrathoracic airway obstruction.
Velo-pharyngo-laryngeal myoclonus, the rapid, rhythmic contraction of muscles of the pharynx and larynx, is a rare neurological manifestation of numerous disease processes affecting the cerebellum. In its most common form, palatal myoclonus, this disease frequently presents to the otolaryngologist as objective tinnitus. Impedance audiometry provides a useful means of verifying suspected palatal myoclonic activity through recorded changes in the middle ear pressure, as mediated by muscle activity at the proximal portion of the eustachian tube. A very rare case of velo-pharyngo-laryngeal myoclonic with clonic contraction of the laryngeal adductors and subsequent extrathoracic airway obstruction is presented. Tracheostomy provided immediate symptomatic relief of dyspnea.
D000158:Acoustic Impedance Tests; D000328:Adult; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007821:Laryngeal Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009132:Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009207:Myoclonus / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010156:Palatal Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010160:Palate, Soft; D010609:Pharyngeal Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000209:etiology*; D014140:Tracheotomy