CLAUDES-SYNDROME FROM MIDBRAIN INFARCTS - 2 CASES

Paramedian midbrain infarcts limited to the oculomotor nerve fibers ar e uncommon. We studied 2 cases where the clinical syndrome included a third cranial nerve palsy and a contralareral cerebellar ataxia. The C T scan disclosed a paramedian midbrain tegmental infarct, so that it i s possible to term our two cases Claude's syndrome. The oculomotor ner ve fascicular palsies were complete in one case and limited to the ext raocular muscles in the second case. The selective involvement of ocul omotor function suggests intraaxial fascicular organization of the thi rd cranial nerve in the brainstem.