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Foster Kennedy Syndrome
Synonyms: Kennedy's phenomenon; Gowers-Paton-Kennedy syndrome
This is a rare neurological sign first described in 19111 by Robert Foster Kennedy. He was a British neurologist, who spent the majority of his working life in America (1884-1952).
It consists of:
- Unilateral, ipsilateral optic atrophy, produced by direct pressure on the optic nerve
- Contralateral papilloedema, secondary to raised intracranial pressure (ICP)
- Central scotoma
- Anosmia
It is most commonly caused by a tumour on the inferior surface of the frontal lobe. This is usually an olfactory groove meningioma or a medial third sphenoidal wing meningioma. It has also been reported as a consequence of a metastatic cerebral tumour. 2A review of the 36 previously reported cases of Foster Kennedy Syndrome (FKS) revealed that only eight (22%) of the cases satisfied Foster Kennedy's original hypothesis for the pathogenesis of his syndrome. 12 cases (33%) were probably caused by bilateral optic nerve compression.3 The authors conclude that as more sophisticated imaging permits earlier and more precise diagnosis, future cases of FKS caused by a mass will probably be found to result from bilateral direct optic nerve compression.
These include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Memory loss
- Emotional lability i.e. other frontal lobe signs
These will depend on the underlying tumour.
Document References
- Kennedy F; Retrobulbar neuritis as an exact diagnostic sign of certain tumors and abscesses in the frontal lobe. American Journal of the Medical Sciences, Thorofare, N.J., 1911, 142: 355-368.
- Yildizhan A; A case of Foster Kennedy syndrome without frontal lobe or anterior cranial fossa involvement. Neurosurg Rev. 1992;15(2):139-42.; Neurosurg Rev. 1992;15(2):139-42. [abstract]
- Watnick RL, Trobe JD; Bilateral optic nerve compression as a mechanism for the Foster Kennedy syndrome. Ophthalmology. 1989 Dec;96(12):1793-8.; Ophthalmology. 1989 Dec;96(12):1793-8. [abstract]
DocID: 1704
Document Version: 20
DocRef: bgp1224
Last Updated: 16 Nov 2006
Review Date: 15 Nov 2008
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