This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Vig, E. K. Articles by Gladstone, H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Vig, E. K. Articles by Gladstone, H. Pubmed/NCBI databases Medline Plus Health Information Dementia Moles Oral Cancer Skin Cancer Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Blue Rubber Bleb Nevus Syndrome in a Patient with Ataxia and Dementia

Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine

Kayla I. Brodkin, MD

Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington

Gregory J. Raugi, MD, PhD

Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington

Hayes Gladstone, MD

Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, Califorma

Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome (BRBNS), an uncommon disorder characterized by cavernous hemangiomas, most often of the skin and gastrointestinal tract, is usually diagnosed during childhood and young adulthood. We made this diagnosis in an octogenarian referred to a geriatric medicine clinic because of concerns about his ability to live independently. Ataxia, dementia, focal neurologic signs, and bluish/purplish vascular nodules on his lips, buccal mucosa, tongue, chest, and neck were noted on physical examination. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an old left parietal infarction, multiple cavernous hemangiomas most densely concentrated in the subcortical structures and cerebellum, and areas of hemosiderin deposition. Skin biopsy findings were consistent with hemangioma. The physical examination, MRI, and skin biopsy made a diagnosis of BRBNS likely. The patient's ataxia, dementia, and other neurologic signs can be explained by previous hemorrhage from the vascular malformations in his brain. Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome is an uncommon cause of a relatively common geriatric syndrome presentation. (J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 2002; 15:7-11).

Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology, Vol. 15, No. 1, 7-11 (2002)
DOI: 10.1177/089198870201500102


CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?