Pure dysarthria, isolated facial paresis, or dysarthria-facial paresis syndrome.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Pure dysarthria, isolated supranuclear facial paresis, and their combination without somatic motor dysfunction are rarely encountered clinical syndromes and have not yet been clearly characterized.

METHODS

Thirteen patients (9 men, 4 women; aged 33 to 72 [mean, 56] years) with unilateral strokes who developed dysarthria with or without facial paresis but without somatic motor dysfunction were reviewed in addition to case reports from previous literature.

RESULTS

Computed tomographic scan and/or magnetic resonance imaging showed infarcts on the corona radiata in 4 patients, basal ganglia abutting the internal capsule in 3, basal ganglia-corona radiata in 1, pontine base in 3, and cortical-subcortical bulbar motor area in 2. The dysarthria and facial paresis were usually mild and transient, and either one was likely to be unnoticed.

CONCLUSIONS

It is suggested that pure dysarthria or isolated facial paresis syndrome be considered as an extreme continuum of dysarthria-facial paresis syndrome, which is likely to be a variant of dysarthria-clumsy hand syndrome.