Work

Teaching NeuroImages: Unilateral focal segmental hyperhidrosis from spinal tumor progression

Year: 2019

Type: article

Abstract: A 10-year-old girl presented with excessive sweating overlying her right scapula (figure) and stable right leg weakness due to an underlying solid cystic pilocytic astrocytoma spanning T3–T12, debulked 5 months earlier, subsequently re-decompressed with syringosubarachnoid shunt placement secondary to intrasyrinx hemorrhage. MRI demonstrated mild tumor and syrinx progression at T5–T8, limited to the right side (figure, B–E). Focal segmental hyperhidrosis is rare, previously reported in Chiari and trauma-related syringomyelia.1,2 Here, unilateral hyperhidrosis was caused by ipsilateral tumor and syrinx progression. The pathophysiology may be from local tissue damage causing hyperactivity of preganglionic sympathetic neurons or disinhibition of inhibitory local interneurons.2

Source: Neurology

DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000007950

Authors: Christopher S. Hong, Adam J. Kundishora, Kristopher T. Kahle, Michael L. Diluna

Institution: Yale University

Language: English

Topic: Sympathectomy and Hyperhidrosis Treatments

Subfield: Physiology (medical)

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences