Abstract
Introduction: Schmahmann syndrome (SCAC) is an affectation of the cerebellum that includes cognitive and affective alterations, impaired executive function, visuospatial processing deficiencies, language deficits, and affective alterations. The diagnosis is mainly neuropsychological and supported by neuroimaging studies such as magnetic resonance imaging.
Case presentation: This case presents a 27 years old patient with a history of substance use since the age of 16 and HIV-positive. Difficulties in the pronunciation of phonemes are reported, perform movements with right limbs, right lateropulsion, left horizontal binocular diplopia and with the presence of dizziness. Speech with scandid dysarthria, dysmetria, dysdiadochokinesia and hypotonia of the right extremities stand out.
Discussion: A neuropsychological examination is performed using the scale of the cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome, the complex figure of Rey and the Beck depression test. The results show a probable association for SCAC, reaffirmed by magnetic resonance imaging studies, which indicate lesion in the right cerebellar hemisphere extending to the middle peduncle and bilateral dorsal bridge. In addition, planning problems related to memory problems, difficulty in engaging words, phonemic naming impairment and the presence of mild depression, which support the diagnosis.
Conclusions: This case allows us to consider cerebellar pathologies that extend to typical functions of the brain, emphasizing the use of neuropsychological evaluations to detect subtle deficits that are usually overlooked when recognizing a SACC.
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