[Correlation of clinical and magnetic resonance imaging findings in patients with brainstem infarction].

The aim of this study was the comparison of clinical and neurological findings in 30 patients presenting with ischemic brainstem lesions. These were localized in the midbrain in 4 cases, in the medulla in 12 cases and in the pons in 11 cases, while the remaining three patients demonstrated combined lesions. Symptoms were lesions of the pyramidal tract in 77% of cases, vertigo in 57% of cases, speech disturbances in 40% of cases and gait ataxia in 37% of cases. Cranial nerve lesions were evident in 87% of patients, while 33% of patients demonstrated a Horner syndrome. Brainstem lesions were diagnosed in 22 (73%) of patients on magnetic resonance imaging, while all 30 patients had clinical signs suggestive of brainstem lesions. We conclude that neuroradiological studies can provide helpful information regarding patients with brainstem lesions, but by no means replace exact neurological examination.