High-voltage VIM Region Deep Brain Stimulation Mimicking Progressive Supranuclear Palsy.

BACKGROUND

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) for essential tremor (ET) can cause unwanted side effects.

CASE REPORT: A patient with ET underwent unilateral dual-lead thalamic DBS. He later developed parkinsonism with atypical features and was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy. During presentation for a second opinion, stimulation-induced side effects were suspected. Inactivation of DBS resolved atypical features and superimposed idiopathic Parkinson disease (PD) was diagnosed.

DISCUSSION: This case illustrates the importance of recognizing the possible influence of stimulation-induced side effects and discusses when to utilize dual-lead DBS for ET and the co-occurrence of ET and PD.