A Rare Presentation of Idiopathic Unilateral Hypertrophic Olivary Degeneration

Abstract

Hypertrophic olivary degeneration (HOD) is a rare form of trans-synaptic degeneration affecting the inferior olivary nucleus (ION). Its classical description involves a lesion in the Guillain-Mollaret triangle (GMT), characteristic imaging findings, and associated oculopalatal tremor. However, understanding of this disease entity is incomplete, as its overall rarity has limited strong classification. Case reports and small studies indicate that a variety of presentations can occur, including non-existent or non-classical lesions as well as variations in physical symptoms. Here we report the exceedingly rare case of idiopathic, nonlesional, unilateral HOD in a female patient.

Keywords: hypertrophic olivary degeneration; idiopathic hypertrophic olivary degeneration; inferior olivary nucleus; mr brain; nonlesional hypertrophic olivary degeneration; unilateral hypertrophic olivary degeneration.