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.