RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Foix-Chavany-Marie syndrome (FCMS) is a type of pseudobulbar palsy that affects facio-pharyngo-glosso-masticatory muscles. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 62-year-old man was admitted to the emergency department after 9 hours of acute dysarthria and dysphagia. MRI showed restricted diffusion in the right operculum on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). No thrombolytic therapy was given. The patient had a history of mechanical aortic valve replacement under anticoagulation with a vitamin K antagonist. Work-up demonstrated suboptimal levels of INR. Due to severe dysphagia during hospitalization, a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) was performed. RESULTS: The patient was discharged 5 days later, with a modified Rankin scale (mRs) score of 3, and secondary stroke prevention. He had achieved an excellent functional outcome (mRs 1) at 6-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: Our patient had a satisfactory recovery due to prompt diagnosis, secondary stroke prevention, and compliance with treatment. LEARNING POINTS: In the presence of acute dysarthria and dysphagia, Foix-Chavany-Marie syndrome (FCMS) should be considered.FCMS may occur in the presence of unilateral opercular stroke.Swallowing and speech therapy play an essential role in rehabilitation after the acute setting.
RESUMO
Foix-Chavany-Marie syndrome (FCMS) is a cortical-subcortical pseudobulbar palsy characterized by automatic voluntary dissociation of facio-masticatory-pharyngo-glosso-laryngeal movements. FCMS is typically caused by vascular insults on the bilateral anterior opercular or adjacent subcortical areas. Acute onset of FCMS secondary to a unilateral lesion is extremely rare. Herein we present a case of FCMS caused by acute unilateral anterior opercular infarction with preexisting bilateral leukoaraiosis. Our case shows that an acute unilateral anterior opercular lesion can decompensate preexisting corticobulbar-subcortical lesions and cause the typical features of FCMS.