J Korean Neurol Assoc.  1999 Sep;17(5):721-725.

A Case of Hemichorea Ipsilateral to the Basal Ganglia Hemorrhage

• Oh JB
• Kim HJ
• Jeon BS
• Roh JK

Abstract

Hemichorea is usually caused by lesions in the contralateral subthalamus and basal ganglia. Ipsilateral lesions have rarely been reported to be responsible for the abnormal movement. A 27 year-old woman with well-controlled hyper-thyroidism presented with sudden involuntary movements in the right limbs and a mild headache. The movements were random, irregular, repetitive, and most prominent in the right hand and forearm, but also found in the right leg and face. She experienced no weaknesses in the contralateral limbs. A brain magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) taken after 7 days showed early subacute hematoma in the right basal ganglia. There were no lesions in the left hemisphere. In a cerebral angiography, the bilateral major cerebral vessels were narrowed around the circle of Willis. We critically review previous reports of and explanations for the development of ipsilateral hemichorea.

Keyword

Hemichorea; Ipsilateral; Basal ganglia; Intracerebral hemorrhage

MeSH Terms

Adult
Basal Ganglia Hemorrhage*
Basal Ganglia*
Brain
Cerebral Angiography
Cerebral Hemorrhage
Circle of Willis
Dyskinesias
Extremities
Female
Forearm
Hand
Headache
Hematoma
Humans
Leg
Subthalamus