Improvement of Hemichorea Following Surgical Resection of a Putaminal Cavernous Angioma: Case Report and Review of Literature

Abstract

Background: Hemichorea may point to a structural lesion in the contralateral basal ganglia with a large list of possible causes. Cavernous angioma may be rarely a possible cause for acute appearance of this movement disorder.

Case description: We present a rare case of a 32-year-old female patient with hemichorea caused by a cavernoma (or cavernous angioma) in the contralateral insula and putamen with complete improvement of symptoms with surgical resection of the lesion.

Conclusions: We believe that surgical resection of basal ganglia cavernomas may be feasible with minor risks and resolution of clinical symptoms in the immediate postoperative period.

Keywords: Basal ganglia; Cavernous angioma; Hemichorea; Movements disorder.