Congenital ocular motor apraxia and brainstem tumor

C. R. Zaret, M. M. Behrens and H. M. Eggers

Congenital ocular motor apraxia is considered a benign disorder of horizontal saccadic eye movements. A case is presented of an 8-month-old boy with this clinical picture in whom, four months later, signs of increased intracranial pressure from a large, cystic neoplasm of the rostral part of the brainstem developed, the second such case reported to our knowledge. Occasional abnormalities of the nervous system in patients with this disorder are reviewed. Careful neurologic examination and continuing reevaluation of the conditions of these patients are encouraged, with consideration of computerized axial tomography of the brain if neurologic findings or deterioration dictates.