Pseudoathetosis

Pseudoathetosis (pronunciation: soo-doh-uh-thee-toh-sis) is a medical condition characterized by involuntary, slow, writhing movements, particularly of the fingers and hands, that appear to be athetosis but are not due to a lesion in the basal ganglia, the part of the brain responsible for initiating and controlling movements.

Etymology

The term "pseudoathetosis" is derived from the Greek words "pseudes" meaning false, "athetos" meaning without position or place, and "osis" meaning condition. Thus, it refers to a condition that mimics athetosis, but is not true athetosis.

Symptoms

The primary symptom of pseudoathetosis is the presence of involuntary, slow, writhing movements, particularly of the fingers and hands. These movements are similar to those seen in athetosis, but are not due to a lesion in the basal ganglia. Other symptoms may include difficulty with fine motor skills and coordination.

Causes

Pseudoathetosis is most commonly caused by a loss of proprioception, or the sense of the relative position of one's own parts of the body. This can occur due to a variety of conditions, including peripheral neuropathy, spinal cord lesions, and vitamin B12 deficiency.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of pseudoathetosis is primarily based on clinical observation of the characteristic movements. Additional tests may be performed to determine the underlying cause of the loss of proprioception, such as nerve conduction studies or imaging of the spinal cord.

Treatment

Treatment of pseudoathetosis is primarily aimed at addressing the underlying cause of the loss of proprioception. This may involve treating the underlying condition causing peripheral neuropathy, managing spinal cord lesions, or correcting vitamin B12 deficiency.

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Pseudoathetosis
Wikipedia's article - Pseudoathetosis

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Pseudoathetosis