Hyperkinetic movement disorders caused by corpus striatum infarcts: Brain MRI/CT findings in three cases

Three patients with hemichorea/hemiballismus/hemidystonia caused by discret e contralateral infarction of the corpus striatum are presented. The infarc ts were all small on CT or MRI brain scan and were lacunar in type. Small d iscrete infarction of basal. ganglionic structures allows such adventitious movements to be manifested. Involvement of contiguous areas, seen with lar ger infarcts, can suppress such movements. The infrequency of such hyperkin etic movement disorders, and the subtle infarct appearance on brain scan, c an lead to a delay in the diagnosis.