The Brain Stem Stroke Atlas Part 2: Case-Based Examples Applying the Brain Stem Stroke Atlas to Syndromes and Infarcts

This article functions as a companion to The BrainStem Stroke Atlas Part 1. Here we present an overview of the most prevalent brainstem stroke syndromes and use a color-coded atlas overlay to illustrate classic infarct patterns on MRI. These include lateral medullary syndrome (Wallenberg syndrome), medial medullary syndrome (Déjerine syndrome), Babinski-Nageotte syndrome, hemi-medullary syndrome (Reinhold syndrome), facial colliculus syndrome, cochlear and vestibular infarcts, medial pontine infarcts, and Foville syndrome, lateral pontine syndrome (Marie Foix syndrome), Locked-in syndrome, medial midbrain infarct (Claude and Benedikt syndrome), ventrolateral midbrain infarcts (Weber syndrome), and isolated medial longitudinal fasciculus infarcts. We provide insight into the clinical presentation of posterior circulation infarcts, including helpful localizing signs such as crossed sensory and crossed motor deficits.

Learning Objectives: To describe the clinical presentation of classic brainstem stroke syndromes; apply an illustrated neuroanatomy atlas of the brainstem to case-based examples of brainstem infarcts; and interpret imaging findings of brainstem infarcts with greater anatomic specificity.