A case of myoclonic status epilepticus in a patient with brain metastases: Role of dysfunction of the thalamus-cortical network and inhibition of the somatosensory cortex

Abstract

We present the case of a 55-year-old woman with chemo-treated left breast cancer and brain metastasis, who developed a myoclonic status epilepticus in conditions of full well-being. The patient came to our attention due to the onset of short episodes characterized by dysautonomia and motor stereotypies in the upper limbs. During the electroencephalographic recording, the patient presented a narrowing of the state of consciousness, followed by erratic and diffuse myoclonia, initially in the eyelids and with subsequent involvement of the axial, laryngeal-phonatory muscles and of the upper limbs, and finally by the appearance of motor automatisms. In a peculiar way, the tactile stimulation of the upper limbs induced a gradual reduction of the diffuse epileptiform anomalies, up to their complete regression.