Spasmus nutans and congenital ocular motor apraxia with cerebellar vermian hypoplasia

Abstract

Background: Spasmus nutans and congenital ocular motor apraxia share clinical characteristics. However, their development in a patient with cerebellar vermian hypoplasia has not been previously described.

Objective: To report spasmus nutans and congenital ocular motor apraxia in a child with cerebellar vermian hypoplasia.

Design: Case report.

Setting: Tertiary-care hospital. Patient A 7-year-old boy with a history of spasmus nutans during infancy and developmental delay was referred for the evaluation of abnormal head and eye movements.

Results: The patient had impaired voluntary saccades and smooth pursuit in the horizontal plane and showed thrusting movements of the head during attempted gaze shift. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain demonstrated cerebellar vermian hypoplasia, especially in the inferior portion.

Conclusions: Spasmus nutans and congenital ocular motor apraxia may develop in patients with cerebellar vermian hypoplasia. In patients with congenital ocular motor apraxia, a history of spasmus nutans should be sought, and careful evaluation of the cerebellar vermis is needed during brain imaging.