Pure sensory stroke heralding large hemispheric infarction.

A 49-year-old with long-standing hypertension and diabetes developed numbness and sensory loss over the left side of the body consistent with a diagnosis of Pure sensory stroke (PSS). However, CT showed a subcortical infarction in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory, which evolved a few hours later towards a large hemispheric infarction associated with severe neurologic worsening. Doppler ultrasounds showed ipsilateral carotid occlusion and contralateral severe stenosis. These findings suggest that PSS may sometimes herald large infarction in the MCA territory in association with carotid occlusion.