Turkish Neurosurgery
2013 , Vol 23 , Num 1
Acquired Cerebral Hemiatrophy: Dyke-Davidoff- Masson Syndrome - A Case Report
West China Hospital, West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Department of Neurosurgery, Chengdu, China
DOI :
10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.4283-11.1
A rare syndrome, Dyke-Davidoff-Masson Syndrome (DDMS), with a diagnostic conundrum, and the way it was solved is presented. A 13-yearold
boy presented with recurrent seizures for the past 10 years. He had been treated with anticonvulsant medication which was satisfactory
at first but later the seizures recurred. Recently, the frequency of the seizures increased with preictal dizziness and postictal drowsiness.
Physical examination revealed mild left hemiparesis and left deviated gait irregularity. He was mentally alert but had not achieved all the
developmental milestones as compared to normal child of his age. CT and MRI scan of the head showed hemiatrophic cerebral parenchyma
with prominent sulci and encephalomalacia. 24-hour intensive video EEG monitoring revealed suppression of alpha rhythm and local slow
wave activity on the side of the atrophic hemisphere. PET-CT showed highly functional left cerebral hemisphere and less functional right
cerebral hemisphere. The patient underwent functional hemispherectomy under neurophysiological monitoring and the nonfunctional brain
tissues were resected while selectively preserving the functional areas detected by fMRI and PET-CT scan. During follow up, the patient was
seizure free as well as without difficulties in performing his daily activities and communications. Functional hemispherectomy for DDMS
patient has a good prognosis.
Keywords :
Dyke-Davidoff-Masson syndome, Cerebral hemiatrophy, Seizure, Functional hemispherectomy