Pontine Infarction Extending to the Basal Surface

Background and Purpose Etiology and symptomatology in pontine infarction extending to the basal surface are supposed to be different from those in deep pontine infarction of the lacunar type. The aim of this study was to compare the infarct size and location, vascular lesions, risk factors, and neurological deficits in three different types of acute pontine infarction. Methods We studied isolated pontine infarction extending to the basal surface on brain imaging (group 1, n=30), deep pontine infarction without extension to the basal surface (group 2, n=23), and pontine infarction with simultaneous extrapontine infarct in the posterior circulatory system (group 3, n=20). Clinical features, angiographic findings, and risk factors such as emboligenic heart disease, hypertension, and hvpercholesterolemia were compared among the groups. Results The infarct area was 2.5 times greater in group 1 than in group 2. On angiogram, atherosclerotic stenosis of the basilar trunk was observed in 50% of the patients studied in group 1, in 0% in group 2, and in 78% in group 3. Emboligenic heart diseases were observed in 23%, 0%, and 30% in groups