The opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome

Abstract

The opsoclonus–myoclonus syndrome is a rare and distinct neurological disorder characterised by rapid multidirectional conjugate eye movements (opsoclonus), myoclonus and ataxia, along with behavioural changes in adults and irritability in children. Sometimes it is due to a self-limiting presumed para-infectious brainstem encephalitis but it may also represent a non-metastatic manifestation of neuroblastoma in children and small cell carcinoma of the lung in adults. In this article, we will describe the clinical features, diagnosis, pathogenesis and management.

Long-term follow-up of benign positional vertical opsoclonus in infants: retrospective cohort

“…Therefore, the importance of accurate characterisation, preferably with the help of a video, cannot be overemphasised. Opsoclonus is characterised by multidirectional and chaotic eye movements, by contrast to the paroxysmal downbeat movement in BPVO, accompanied by myoclonus, ataxia and behavioural changes 4. It is associated with neuroblastoma in about 50% of cases in children.…”

‘Dancing eyes, dancing feet syndrome’ in small cell lung carcinoma

“…‘Dancing eyes, dancing feet syndrome’ also called the opsoclonus myoclonus syndrome (OMS)1 includes opsoclonus along with diffuse or focal body myoclonus and truncal titubation with or without ataxia and other cerebellar signs.…”

Ocular flutter as the presenting sign of lung adenocarcinoma

“…Our case is unique because of its several atypical features. While there are numerous reports of opsoclonus associated with lung cancer, they are almost invariably the small cell type, 6 which is highly associated with a paraneoplastic syndrome. The pathology in this case was consistent with non-SCLC.…”