Pseudobulbar palsy

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview[edit | edit source]

Pseudobulbar palsy is bilateral impairment of the function of the lower cranial nerves 9, 10, 11 and 12 due to upper motor neurone lesion of the bulbar muscles from lesions of the corticobulbar pathways in the pyramidal tract.

Causes[edit | edit source]

• Vascular causes: Bilateral hemisphere infarction
• Degenerative disorders: motor neuron disease
• Inflammatory disorders: Multiple sclerosis
• Malignancy: High brain stem tumors

Symptoms[edit | edit source]

These include:

• Dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing)
• Labile affect
• Dysarthria

Signs[edit | edit source]

These include:

• Speech is slow, thick and indistinct
• Gag reflex is normal or exaggerated
• Tongue is small, stiff and spastic
• Jaw jerk is brisk
• There may be upper motor neurone lesion of the limbs.

Bulbar palsy is a similar disorder but is caused by lower motor neurone lesions

See also[edit | edit source]

• Corticobulbar tract
• Bulbar palsy

External links[edit | edit source]

• Template:GPnotebook - "pseudobulbar palsy"
• Template:GPnotebook - "comparison of bulbar and pseudobulbar palsy"
• eNotes

Template:Diseases of the nervous system

Template:WikiDoc Sources