Strokes mimicking peripheral nerve lesions

Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 1995 Aug;97(3):203-7. doi: 10.1016/0303-8467(95)00037-k.

Abstract

Sensory-motor deficit in a peripheral nerve pattern due to brain lesion is rarely documented. We report on seven patients with a clinical manifestation of sensory-motor deficit, imitating peripheral nerve involvement, due to lacunar brain infarcts verified by brain computed tomography scan. Five of the patients had an ulnar nerve-like deficit and two median nerve-like deficits. The infarcts were located in the thalamus and the corona radiata. No clinical or electrophysiological evidence for peripheral nerve involvement was found. The unusual peripheral nerve pattern of lesions caused by lacunar brain infarcts can be defined as an additional lacunar syndrome and must be taken into consideration in the clinical evaluation of peripheral nerve deficits with normal nerve conduction velocity.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cerebral Infarction / diagnosis
  • Cerebral Infarction / physiopathology*
  • Electromyography
  • Female
  • Hand / innervation
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Median Nerve / physiopathology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Motor Neurons / physiology
  • Neurologic Examination
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / diagnosis
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / physiopathology*
  • Sensation / physiology
  • Synaptic Transmission / physiology
  • Thalamic Diseases / diagnosis
  • Thalamic Diseases / physiopathology*
  • Thalamus / blood supply
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Ulnar Nerve / physiopathology*