Isolated continuous rhythmic lingual myoclonus

Abstract

Isolated continuous lingual myoclonus is an exceptional entity, poorly documented and understood. A patient with a nonepileptic continuous rhythmical myoclonus, affecting the anterior portion of the tongue, as an independent involuntary disorder, is reported. Electromyography showed low frequency (2-4 Hz) bursts of genioglossus muscles activity. The EEG, visual, auditory and somatosensory evoked responses were normal. Imaging techniques like CT and MRI failed to reveal any brainstem or cerebellar lesion. Lingual myoclonus showed a very good response to sodium valproate.

Isolated Episodic Lingual Myoclonus

“…Isolated lingual myoclonus is exceptionally reported [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. We recently observed a case of transient rhythmic myoclonus of the tongue, in which there was no evidence of pathology.…”

“…Otherwise, brainstem involvement has been hypothesized in the course of Arnold-Chiari malformation [2]or pontine traumatic damage [3]. Exceptionally, essential lingual myoclonus has been reported [4, 5, 6]. In an extensive revision of cases of rhythmic palatal myoclonus (RPM) [7], frequent (unspecified) association with myoclonus of the tongue and/or other branchial muscles has been reported.…”

Undulating Lingual Dyskinesia With Symptomatic Palatal Tremor and Inferior Olivary Hypertrophy Following Cerebellar Hemisphere Hematoma

“…However, in this case, the relationship of the lingual dyskinesias to the IOH is unclear. Lingual dyskinesias are unusual and have been described as either myoclonic or undulating in association with trauma, epilepsy, and ischemia . The movements in the present case were undulating, occurring at rest and decreasing with voluntary movement.…”

New device to control combined lingual and palatal myoclonus

“…On examination, continuous lingual movements with bilateral and symmetric jerking contractions were seen which could not be influenced or stopped by any action. Related sounds are not described in these cases 7–9…”