Crural amyotrophy associated with a parietal lesion: a case report

Abstract The authors have observed a 33-year-old woman with a 3-year history of a clinical syndrome characterised by atrophy of the musculature of the left foot and leg with impaired motor function, associated with a paracentral cortical oligodendroglioma located in the right parietal region. Clinical, neuroradiological (MRI), electrophysiological (electromyography: EMG; motor evoked potential: MEP; median and tibial somatosensory evoked potential: m-SEP and t-SEP), and neuropsychological studies were performed every year for three years. Neurological examination showed an abnormal gait along with foot drop, pes cavus and pyramidal involvement. MEP and t-SEP recordings were abnormal on the left side, while EMG and neuropsychological tests gave normal results, which were unmodified over time. Our observations suggest that the crural amyotrophy observed in this case may be defined as of "parietal" or "central" origin, a clinical feature which more frequently affects the hand. A review of the literature is presented.