Brain Abscess of Basal Ganglia Presenting with Persistent Hiccups

Publication date: April 2018
Source:World Neurosurgery, Volume 112
Author(s): Jared Sweeney, Alexa Bodman, Walter A. Hall
BackgroundBrain abscesses are well-known to neurologic surgeons with well-recognized presentations, which include seizures, neurologic deficit, and headache. Rare symptoms may lead to a delay in diagnosis, which can be life threatening in the setting of a brain abscess.Case DescriptionWe present the case of a 46-year-old male with intractable hiccups found to have an abscess of the right basal ganglia. The brain abscess was treated by frameless stereotactic-guided aspiration. The patient's hiccups improved after surgical aspiration and medical management.ConclusionsA comprehensive literature review confirmed brain abscess as a rare cause of intractable hiccups. In addition, there are few reports of lesions of the basal ganglia causing intractable hiccups. Aspiration and medical therapy resulted in resolution of the hiccups. Knowledge of the hiccup reflex arc and unusual presentation of basal ganglia lesions may shorten time to diagnosis.



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