title: Fluctuating gustatory disturbance and ophthalmodynia heralding the onset of a paramedian pontine infarction.
abstract: Lasting taste disturbance has been previously reported as a consequence of brainstem infarction, but there are no previous reports of transient gustatory sensations preceding the onset of stroke. Ophthalmodynia, presenting as "salt-and-pepper" eye pain, has been reported rarely. We present a 58-year-old right-handed woman who had fluctuating ophthalmodynia and taste disturbance immediately preceding a left paramedian pontine infarction. We discuss the neuroanatomical basis of taste in reference to this presentation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, St Vincent's Hospital, Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, New South Wales 2010, Australia. drneilsimon@gmail.com
authors.forename: Neil G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tisch
authors.forename: Joga
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chaganti
authors.forename: Romesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Markus
mesh_terms: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020526:Brain Stem Infarctions / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D058447:Eye Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D008579:Meningioma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology; D011149:Pons / Q000473:pathology*; D013651:Taste Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents