Reversible vascular changes in children with cerebral infarction.

A case of cerebral infarction in a 4-year-old male is described. The child presented with an acute onset of right hemiplegia, central facial palsy, and dysarthria. He had no predisposing factors for cerebral infarction. A computed tomography scan showed a diffuse low-density area in the territory of the left miiddle cerebral artery. Magnetic resonance angiography disclosed multiple irregular narrowings in the left anterior and middle cerebral arteries. He recovered spontaneously from the stroke with minimal long-term complications, and repeated angiography disclosed a complete regression of the vascular changes 2 months after the stroke. There was no recurrence of stroke after 2-year follow-up. This case demonstrates the importance of longitudinal angiographic follow-up in childhood cerebral infarction of idiopathic origin.