How Commonly Are Brain Tumors Seen in Spasmus Nutans?

Discussion Nystagmus is periodic eye movement that is involuntary where there is a slow drift of fixation. The slow drift can be followed by a fast saccade back to fixation. The pathological movement is the slow phase, but nystagmus is described by the fast phase (i.e. horizontal nystagmus, vertical nystagmus). Spasmus nutans (SN) is a movement disorder that is rare. The classic triad includes nystagmus, head bobbing or titubation, and torticollis, with these problems being in the absence of any ophthalmological or neurological condition. Onset is in the first year of life but ranges from 6-36 months. Time to resolution is sometimes stated as 1-2 years, but others disagree citing longer time frames. There is no harm to visual acuity. The SN nystagmus is usually intermittent, high frequency of small or low amplitude. It is “…variably disconjugate or disjunctive, greater in the abducting eye, and may have a vertical component.” Amblyopia and strabismus may coexist with SN. The head bobbing is irregular may have both vertical and horizontal components. Torticollis occurs as the child moves the head to try to obtain better visual acuity. The differential diagnosis of torticollis can be reviewed here. The differential diagnosis of SN includes ophthalmic problems such as congenital (infantile) nystagmus (a review can be found here), refractive disorders and retinal diseases, and problems of the central nervous system such as optic chiasm gliomas, diencephali...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news