A Case of Fly Catcher's Tongue Phenomenon in Hallervorden-Spatz Disease

ABSTRACT

Hallervorden-Spatz disease (HSD) is a rare, progressive, autosomal recessive hereditary disorder characterized by pyramidal and extrapyramidal signs, speech disturbances, mental deterioration and retinal degeneration during childhood or adolescence. In late-onset form after the age of 20, parkinsonian features may be the predominant clinical manifestation. Meanwhile, involuntary tongue movements are rare and poorly understood, which have been reported in tardive dyskinesia, neuroacanthocytosis, chronic epilepsy, and after head trauma. We report a case of a patient with 'fly catcher's tongue' as a major clinical presentation, accompanied with mild parkinsonism, and typical MR findings of HSD.