Bilateral Anterior Opercular Syndrome

Abstract

Opercular syndrome, also known as Foix-Chavany-Marie syndrome, is characterised by paralysis of the facial, masticatory, pharyngeal, laryngeal, brachial and tongue muscles. It is a cortical form of pseudobulbar palsyo which is commonly caused by a vascular aetiology. The clinical presentation is anarthria, weakness of voluntary muscles involving face, tongue, pharynx, larynx, and masticatory muscles. However, autonomic reflexes and emotional functions of these structures are preserved. We report a case of a 61 year old man who had difficulty in chewing, swallowing and vocalising since one and a half month, which on imaging was found to be opercular syndrome.