Go Back Brain/15. Brain and meninges, Infratentorial/Miscellaneous/15.8 - Hypertrophic Olivary Degeneration/ Go to Index

41 year-old male, 10 monthspost CHI secondary toMVA.

Demyelination

Low grade glioma

Ischemia/Hypoxia

Compressive injury/Contussion

Hypertrophic olivary degeneration.

First described by Oppenheim in 1887

Trans-synaptic degeneration caused by interruption of the Guillain-Mollaret triangle.

Can be manifested by palatal myoclonus.

Can be caused by different lesions, commonly foci of hemorrhage:

If occurs in the CTT-> ipsilateral/bilateral involvement of the medulla

If occurs in cerebellum-> contralateral medulla.

Characterized by hypertrophy of degenerated neurons followed by hypertrophy of astrocytes

Glial cell hypertrophy controversial

Can see hyperintensity on PD/T2 by 3 wks post-ictus, with maximum hypertrophy seen at 5-15 months.