Does multiple sclerosis affect the thalamus?

The thalamus plays an important role as an information relay center, and involvement of the thalamus in MS has been associated with a variety of clinical manifestations in MS, including fatigue, movement disorders, pain, and cognitive impairment (CI).

What disorders are associated with the thalamus?

Disorders of the centrally located thalamus, which integrates a wide range of cortical and subcortical information. Manifestations include sensory loss, MOVEMENT DISORDERS; ATAXIA, pain syndromes, visual disorders, a variety of neuropsychological conditions, and COMA.

What causes lesions in the thalamus?

Background. Thalamic lesions are seen in a multitude of disorders including vascular diseases, metabolic disorders, inflammatory diseases, trauma, tumours, and infections.

What happens if there is a lesion on the thalamus?

Patients with lesions affecting the posterior thalamus may present with variable sensory deficits, weakness, memory impairment, aphasia, hand tremor, and dystonia.

What is thalamic pain syndrome?

Thalamic pain syndrome. Specialty. Neurology. Dejerine–Roussy syndrome or thalamic pain syndrome is a condition developed after a thalamic stroke, a stroke causing damage to the thalamus. Ischemic strokes and hemorrhagic strokes can cause lesioning in the thalamus.

What is thalamic atrophy?

“Thalamic atrophy is one of the earliest brain changes seen in patients with MS and is associated with cognitive impairment, physical disability and fatigue,” Dr. Mahajan reports. “In addition, the extent of atrophy is correlated with progression of disability, which makes it a potential marker for neurodegeneration.”

How does the thalamus affect mental illness?

Brain imaging studies in people with schizophrenia have found decreased connectivity between the mid/upper thalamus and the prefrontal cortex. People with schizophrenia often have working memory deficits, which cause problems with making decisions based on newly acquired memories.

What is thalamic syndrome?

Thalamic pain syndrome or central post-stroke pain can occur when there are disruptions of one of the pathways of the brain that affects the sensation of temperature. There can be burning or tingling pain. Also, significant discomfort with temperature changes is a concern for thalamic pain syndrome following a stroke.

Can a thalamus tumor be removed?

Unfortunately, for most astrocytomas of the thalamus (infiltrative or diffuse Grade II-IV tumors), surgical removal is not an option. In those cases, surgery should be reserved purely for biopsy, to treat hydrocephalus, or to reduce the mass effect.

How does the thalamus affect behavior?

While the thalamus is classically known for its roles as a sensory relay in visual, auditory, somatosensory, and gustatory systems, it also has significant roles in motor activity, emotion, memory, arousal, and other sensorimotor association functions.

How common is thalamic pain syndrome?

The prevalence of thalamic pain syndrome following a stroke is relatively high at up to eight percent of cases. Despite being common following a stroke, diagnosis is often difficult.

Does central pain syndrome ever go away?

In most cases, central pain syndrome remains a lifelong condition. Central pain syndrome can be limited to a specific area of the body such as the hands or feet or may be widespread over a large portion of the body.

Are there any movement disorders associated with thalamus lesions?

Reports of 62 cases with a movement disorder associated with a focal lesion in the thalamus and/or subthalamic region were analyzed. Thirtythree cases had a lesion confined to the thalamus. Sixteen cases had a thalamic lesion extending into the subthalamic region and/or midbrain.

Are there any cases of generalized chorea and thalamic atrophy?

Another case with generalized chorea and thalamic atrophy was complicated by stereotaxic surgery. Thirteen of the 18 cases with asterixis had lesions confined to the thalamus. Eight were associated with thalamotomy, and five others had a stroke (four infarction and one hemorrhage) affecting the contralateral thalamus.

Can a thalamic lesion cause dyskinesias in the limbs?

In 53 cases with unilateral thalamic or subthalamic lesions, all but one with bilateral blepharospasm (associated with right posterior thalamic, pontomesencephalic, and bilateral cerebellar lesions) had dyskinesias in the limbs contralateral to the lesion.

When does paroxysmal dystonia occur after thalamic lesions?

Three cases of paroxysmal dystonia occurred 19 days to 3 months after an acute thalamic lesions (two due to infarcts and one to multiple sclerosis), as the initial hemiplegia resolved. The attacks were precipitated by voluntary movements.