STROKES MIMICKING PERIPHERAL-NERVE LESIONS

Sensory-motor deficit in a peripheral nerve pattern due to brain lesio n is rarely documented. We report on seven patients with a clinical ma nifestation of sensory-motor deficit, imitating peripheral nerve invol vement, due to lacunar brain infarcts verified by brain computed tomog raphy scan. Five of the patients had an ulnar nerve-like deficit and t wo median nerve-like deficits. The infarcts were located in the thalam us and the corona radiata. No clinical or electrophysiological evidenc e for peripheral nerve involvement was found. The unusual peripheral n erve pattern of lesions caused by lacunar brain infarcts can be define d as an additional lacunar syndrome and must be taken into considerati on in the clinical evaluation of peripheral nerve deficits with normal nerve conduction velocity.