OBJECTIVES: Among the classification criteria for the diagnosis of @entity3605 , @entity2845 mutism is described as a symptom which helps to establish the diagnosis as possible or probable. @entity2844 has been anatomically divided into two forms--the mesencephalic form and the frontal form. The aim of this study was to delimit the symptom of @entity2845 mutism in @entity1 with @entity3605 from the complex of symptoms of an @entity751 and to assign it to the individual forms. METHODS: Between April and December 1996, 25 @entity2845 and mute @entity1 with @entity3605 were consecutively examined. The @entity1 were classified according to the definition of @entity2845 mutism by Cairns and secondly in accordance with the features constituting the complete picture of an @entity751 (defined by Gerstenbrand). RESULTS: From 25 @entity1 with definite @entity3605 , 24 @entity1 showed impoverishment of speech and, after a mean duration of four (range 1.1-11.2) months, almost complete absence of @entity717 and speech. Seven @entity1 were classified as being mute and @entity2845 and assigned to the mesencephalic form whereas 13 @entity1 were classified as apallic. One @entity1 was mute without being @entity2845 and four @entity1 were @entity772 . CONCLUSION: Diffuse @entity75 underlies @entity2845 mutism in @entity1 with @entity3605 . The term can be used as a classification criterion for the diagnosis of @entity3605 ; however, it should be applied very carefully and delimited clearly from the @entity751 .

@entity2844 as a classification criterion for the diagnosis of XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'patient'] @entity2844 :: ('MESH:D000405', 'Disease') :: ['Akinetic mutism'] @entity75 :: ('MESH:D001927', 'Disease') :: ['brain damage'] @entity772 :: ('MESH:D003128', 'Disease') :: ['comatose'] @entity3605 :: ('MESH:D007562', 'Disease') :: ['Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease'] @entity2845 :: ('MESH:D018476', 'Disease') :: ['akinetic'] @entity751 :: ('MESH:D013577', 'Disease') :: ['apallic syndrome', 'appalic syndrome'] @entity717 :: ('MESH:D009069', 'Disease') :: ['voluntary movements']
@entity3605 :: (MESH:D007562,Disease) :: ['Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease']
