This is the first case report of sleep-disordered breathing in patients with pontine tegmental cap dysplasia, a very rare neurological disorder characterized by an anatomic malformation in the pons. Patients present with hypotonia, cognitive dysfunction, and cranial nerve palsies (eg, hearing loss, trigeminal anesthesia, and swallow dysfunction). Extensive studies have demonstrated the relevance of different pontine neuronal nuclei in breathing regulation, which are structurally abnormal in pontine tegmental cap dysplasia. We present detailed polysomnography data for 3 patients aged 41 years, 20 years, and 1.5 years revealing significant central sleep apnea. We discuss our experience with managing their sleep-disordered breathing in the setting of multiple cranial nerve palsies and corneal anesthesia, and its relative contraindication of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation treatment.
Citation: Ju Wang J-D, Doherty D, Ramirez J-M, Chen M. Central sleep apnea in patients with pontine tegmental cap dysplasia treated with supplemental oxygen: a case report. J Clin Sleep Med. 2023;19(4):843-849.
Keywords: central sleep apnea; control of breathing; corneal anesthesia; cranial nerve palsy; pontine tegmental cap dysplasia; sleep-disordered breathing.
© 2023 American Academy of Sleep Medicine.