A 65-year-old man presents to your clinic after falling several times in the past few months. On examination, his most notable findings are an unstable, wide-based gait and marked retropulsion. He does have bradykinesia with masked facies and dysahria. You find no evidence of cogwheeling or resting tremor. His symptoms do not respond to levodopa/carbidopa. During the next few months, his eye movements are notable for the slowing of veical saccades and fast phases. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A 65-year-old man presents to your clinic after falling several times in the past few months. On examination, his most notable findings are an unstable, wide-based gait and marked retropulsion. He does have bradykinesia with masked facies and dysahria. You find no evidence of cogwheeling or resting tremor. His symptoms do not respond to levodopa/carbidopa. During the next few months, his eye movements are notable for the slowing of veical saccades and fast phases. What is the most likely diagnosis?
💡 Explanation
**Core Concept**
The patient's presentation suggests a neurodegenerative disorder affecting motor control and balance, with key features including an unstable gait, retropulsion, bradykinesia, and impaired eye movements. **Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP)** and other parkinsonian syndromes are considered due to the presence of bradykinesia and postural instability. The lack of response to levodopa/carbidopa is a significant clue.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The combination of postural instability, bradykinesia, and the distinctive oculomotor findings, particularly the slowing of vertical saccades, points towards **Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP)**. The absence of significant tremor and the poor response to levodopa/carbidopa further support this diagnosis, as PSP patients typically do not respond well to dopaminergic therapy.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** Would be incorrect as it doesn't align with the specific combination of symptoms described, particularly the eye movement abnormalities.
**Option B:** Similarly, does not match the clinical picture presented, especially the lack of response to levodopa and the specific oculomotor signs.
**Option C:** Is not the best fit due to the distinct clinical features of PSP, such as the prominent postural instability and vertical supranuclear gaze palsy.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
A key point to remember is that PSP is characterized by its distinctive oculomotor features, including difficulty with vertical gaze, and a lack of response to levodopa, distinguishing it from Parkinson's disease.
**Correct Answer:** D. Progressive Supranuclear Palsy.
✓ Correct Answer: B. Progressive supranuclear gaze palsy
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