INTRODUCTION: The appearance of tremor after thalamic lesions is well-known but infrequent. Amongst the semiological varieties of thalamic tremors, a particularly uncommon type--which is extremely incapacitating owing to its great amplitude, appearance during action and poor therapeutic response--is the so-called rubric or mesencephalic tremor. CLINICAL CASES: We present four cases, of tremor with the semiological characteristics of rubric tremors after thalamic lesions of ischaemic or haemorrhagic origin. We review the relevant literature. DISCUSSION: The rubric tremor has been said to have its physiopathological origin in a lesion of the nigro-striate via and the efferent cerebellar vias at some point of the mesencephalic or subthalamic path, often without direct involvement of the red nucleus. CONCLUSIONS: The presentation of this type of tremor due to lesions which do not effect the red nucleus and the mesencephalum show the unsuitability of the name.
INTRODUCTION: The appearance of tremor after thalamic lesions is well-known but infrequent. Amongst the semiological varieties of thalamic tremors, a particularly uncommon type--which is extremely incapacitating owing to its great amplitude, appearance during action and poor therapeutic response--is the so-called rubric or mesencephalic tremor. CLINICAL CASES: We present four cases, of tremor with the semiological characteristics of rubric tremors after thalamic lesions of ischaemic or haemorrhagic origin. We review the relevant literature. DISCUSSION: The rubric tremor has been said to have its physiopathological origin in a lesion of the nigro-striate via and the efferent cerebellar vias at some point of the mesencephalic or subthalamic path, often without direct involvement of the red nucleus. CONCLUSIONS: The presentation of this type of tremor due to lesions which do not effect the red nucleus and the mesencephalum show the unsuitability of the name.