[Brain tumor and parkinsonism].

Reports on cases of parkinsonism associated with brain tumor were reviewed. Although parkinsonism can develop in association with any type of brain tumor, it develops most frequently in association with meningiomas located at the sphenoid ridge or frontal convexity. Although parkinsonian symptoms in the parkinsonism associated with brain tumors are similar to those seen in Parkinson's disease in the early stages, atypical symptoms, such as visual field defects, motor weakness or pyramidal signs are visible signs of the parkinsonism. Functional abnormality in the nigrostrial system due to chronic mechanical compression of the system by a sizeable brain tumor seems to contribute to the pathogenesis of the parkinsonism.