Abstract
Two stroke patients (case 1 : 50 yrs. female and case 2 : 57 yrs. male) showed weakness and pyramidal signs on one side combined with a cerebellar-like ataxia on the same side. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a small hemorrhage in most posterior of basis in the contralateral pons. Recovery was satisfactory within six weeks. This is an uncommon presentation of pontine hemorrhage and adds to the known causes of ataxic hemiparesis (AH).
Another patient (case 3 : 59 yrs. female) experienced the sudden onset of a hemiparesis. The leg was more affected than the arm. No sensory deficit was found. CT showed a small hemorrhage in most anterior of basis pontis. Recovery was satisfactory within ten weeks. This is also an uncommon presentation of pontine hemorrhage and adds to the known causes of pure motor hemiplegia (PMH).
These patients were studied the physiological examinations such as EEG, blink reflex (BR), auditory evoked response (ABR) and somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) in the acute and the recovery stage. EEGs were normal in all three cases. BRs in all three cases were abnormal in the acute stage and were normal in the recovery stage. ABR in case 2 was abnormal in the acute stage and returned to normal in the recovery stage. SEPs in case 1 and 2 were ab-normal but in case 3 was normal in the acute stage. The abnormal SEPs returned to normal in the recovery stage.
These data implies that a small hemorrhage does not have directory an effect on the BR, ABR and SEP. The abnormalities of physiological examinations are transient under the pressure and/or edema of the hemorrhage.
