# Basal Ganglia Intraparenchymal Cyst Revealed by a Movement Disorder

**Authors:** Kaouthar Benyarou, Sanae El Hasnaoui, Samah Yousfi, Yassine Mebrouk

PMC · DOI: 10.7759/cureus.101166 · Cureus · 2026-01-09

## TL;DR

A rare brain cyst in a child caused movement issues and was identified using MRI, showing how such cysts can present with unusual symptoms.

## Contribution

This case expands the known clinical presentation of basal ganglia cysts to include complex pediatric movement disorders.

## Key findings

- A 12-year-old girl showed left-sided weakness and involuntary movements due to a basal ganglia cyst.
- MRI revealed a non-enhancing cyst with cerebrospinal fluid-like signals, suggesting a neuroepithelial cyst.
- The case highlights the importance of MRI in diagnosing and correlating clinical and radiological features of such lesions.

## Abstract

Neuroepithelial cysts are rare, benign intracranial lesions most often detected incidentally due to their typically silent clinical course. We report the case of a 12-year-old right-handed girl who presented with progressive weakness of the left upper limb accompanied by involuntary movements of the left hemibody, including myoclonus and dystonia. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated a well-defined intraparenchymal cystic lesion within the right basal ganglia, with cerebrospinal fluid-like signal characteristics and no contrast enhancement, radiologically suggestive of a neuroepithelial cyst. Manifestation as a movement disorder is exceedingly uncommon, particularly in the pediatric population. This case expands the clinical spectrum of basal ganglia intraparenchymal cystic lesions presenting with complex movement disorders and underscores the role of MRI in lesion characterization and clinico-radiological correlation.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** movement disorder (MONDO:0005395), dystonia (MONDO:0003441)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** involuntary movements (MESH:D020820), intracranial lesions (MESH:D020765), Movement Disorder (MESH:D009069), dystonia (MESH:D004421), cystic (MESH:D018297), myoclonus (MESH:D009207), cystic lesions (MESH:D052177), Neuroepithelial cysts (MESH:C535966), weakness (MESH:D018908)

## Full text

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## Figures

4 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12883265/full.md

## References

20 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12883265/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12883265