Tourette Syndrome, an Acquired Encephalopathy? A Report of Two Cases with Epileptiform Dysrhythmia

Abstract

The electroencephalogram, although providing no specific diagnostic information for Tourette syndrome, may be useful in evaluating the pathology in which the syndrome occurs, since it appears that at least some cases may occur in the setting of an underlying acquired encephalopathy of diverse etiology. A neurochemical basis for the Tourette syndrome expressed as an extrapyramidal circuit imbalance may also relate to a discharge threshold for epileptiform activity. A more detailed electroencephalographic evaluation of such patients using nasopharyngeal or sphenoidal recording may be useful in this regard.