Regression of Benedikt's syndrome after single-stage removal of mesencephalic cavernoma and temporal meningioma: A case report

Abstract

1. IntroductionWe herein report a unique association of midbrain cavernomaand Benedikt’s syndrome (BS) that was reversed after microsur-gical removal of the lesion. BS was originally described by MoritzBenedikt in 1889, characterized by the presence of an oculomotornerve palsy and cerebellar ataxia including tremor and ascribedclinical constellation of signs to a lesion of the cerebral pedun-cle [1]. Subsequently, Charcot [2] and de la Tourette and Charcot[2] reported other cases, and in the latter case, involvement ofthe red nucleus, substantia nigra, third nerve root and sparing thecerebral pedunclewerereported[3].Inthisreport,theauthorques-tioned theinvolvementofthecorticospinaltractasakeyfeatureofBS [3]. By that time, midbrain ischemic lesions and tuberculomasappeared to be the most frequent causes of BS, which was neverreversible when midbrain structures were disrupted.Our case helps to elucidate the clinicopathologic characteristicsof BS,thepotentialreversibilityofwhichmayindicatesurgeryevenin severely disabled patients with noninfiltrating midbrain masslesions.