Bilateral cortical border-zone infarction. A pseudobrainstem stroke.
Acute bilateral weakness of the extremities with weakness of the tongue classically signals a medullary lesion. A patient had these signs, but at autopsy, bilateral cortical border-zone infarcts and an entirely normal brainstem were found. This case points out the importance of considering bilateral cortical border-zone infarction in the presence of bilateral motor or sensory signs, especially when there is sparing of facial motor function.
D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000098:blood supply; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000098:blood supply*; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans