Abstract
Hypertrophic olivary degeneration is a rare type of neuronal degeneration involving the structures and pathways of Guillan ? Mollaret triangle. Typical hemorrhages of the brainstem or cerebellum become the cause of this pathological entity.
In addition to hemorrhages, some trauma, tumor and inflammatory process are associated with development of hypertrophic olivary degeneration. Clinical findings associated with olivary hypertrophy include palatal or ocular myoclonus and tremor of an upper extremity.
In four patients, inferior olivary hypertrophy was detected and tegmental haemorrhages were demonstrated in 2 of the 4 patients. In the remaining two patients olivary hypertrophy was associated with infection and with demyelinization process.
Only one of our patients presented palatal myoclonus. We conclude that hypertrophic olivary degeneration is caused by various etiologies, and may present various aspects.