This Article Full Text Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Lyrer, P. A. Articles by Steck, A. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Lyrer, P. A. Articles by Steck, A. J.

(Stroke. 1997;28:1022-1027.)
© 1997 American Heart Association, Inc.

Articles

Cerebral Infarcts Related to Isolated Middle Cerebral Artery Stenosis

P. A. Lyrer, MD; S. Engelter, MD; E. W. Radü, MD; A. J. Steck, MD

From the Department of Neurology and Division of Neuroradiology (E.W.R.), University Hospital Basel (Switzerland).

Correspondence to P.A. Lyrer, MD, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Basel, Petersgraben 4, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland. E-mail LYRER{at}ubaclu.unibas.ch

Background and Purpose The clinical presentation of middle cerebral artery (MCA) stenosis, a rarely diagnosed condition, is not well known. The aim of this study was to analyze the stroke patterns of patients with isolated MCA stenosis.

Methods Twenty-two patients with cerebral infarcts due to isolated MCA stenosis were analyzed with respect to their clinical syndrome, and cerebral lesions were assessed by neuroimaging. MCA stenosis was diagnosed by transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD) in 16, by TCD and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in 4, and by DSA alone in 2 patients.

Results Ten patients (45.5%) had lacunar syndromes, suggesting small-vessel disease, and 12 patients (55.5%) showed signs and symptoms of cortical dysfunction. Cerebral CT or MRI showed no lesion in 2 patients, small deep infarcts in 10, large striatocapsular infarcts in 2, combined piomedullary and striatocapsular infarcts in 4, piomedullary branch infarcts in 3, and MCA trunk infarct in 1.

Conclusions The results suggest an association between MCA stenosis and (1) lacunar infarcts and (2) the occurrence of piomedullary MCA branch infarcts alone or in combination with subcortical infarcts. The clinical syndromes and the radiological findings correspond in most cases.

Key Words: cerebral infarction • lacunar infarction • middle cerebral artery • ultrasonics

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K-H Cho, D-W Kang, S U Kwon, and J S Kim Location of single subcortical infarction due to middle cerebral artery atherosclerosis: proximal versus distal arterial stenosis J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry, January 1, 2009; 80(1): 48 - 52. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. H. Shin, P. H. Lee, and O. Y. Bang Mechanisms of Recurrence in Subtypes of Ischemic Stroke: A Hospital-Based Follow-up Study Arch Neurol, August 1, 2005; 62(8): 1232 - 1237. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. H. Lee, S. -H. Oh, O. Y. Bang, S. -Y. Joo, I. S. Joo, and K. Huh Infarct patterns in atherosclerotic middle cerebral artery versus internal carotid artery disease Neurology, April 27, 2004; 62(8): 1291 - 1296. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				O. Y. Bang, S. Y. Joo, P. H. Lee, U. S. Joo, J. H. Lee, I. S. Joo, and K. Huh The Course of Patients With Lacunar Infarcts and a Parent Arterial Lesion: Similarities to Large Artery vs Small Artery Disease Arch Neurol, April 1, 2004; 61(4): 514 - 519. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Brozici, A. van der Zwan, and B. Hillen Anatomy and Functionality of Leptomeningeal Anastomoses: A Review Stroke, November 1, 2003; 34(11): 2750 - 2762. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				O. Y. Bang, J. H. Heo, J. Y. Kim, J. H. Park, and K. Huh Middle Cerebral Artery Stenosis Is a Major Clinical Determinant in Striatocapsular Small, Deep Infarction Arch Neurol, February 1, 2002; 59(2): 259 - 263. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]