Lateral pontine syndrome

Lateral pontine syndrome
Specialty	Neurology

A lateral pontine syndrome is a lesion which is similar to the lateral medullary syndrome, but because it occurs in the pons, it also involves the cranial nerve nuclei of the pons.

Causes

It can be caused by an interruption to the blood supply of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery.

Symptoms

Damage to the following areas produces symptoms (from medial to lateral):

Structure affected	Effect
Lateral spinothalamic tract	Contralateral loss of pain and temperature from the trunk and extremities.
Facial nucleus & facial Nerve (CN.VII)	(1) Ipsilateral paralysis of the upper and lower face (lower motor neuron lesion). (2) Ipsilateral loss of lacrimation and reduced salivation. (3) Ipsilateral loss of taste from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue. (4) Loss of corneal reflex (efferent limb).
Spinal trigeminal nucleus and tract	Ipsilateral loss of pain and temperature sensation from the face (facial hemianesthesia)
Vestibular Nuclei and intraaxial nerve fibers	Nystagmus, nausea, diplopia, vomiting, and vertigo
Cochlear nuclei and intraaxial nerve fibers	Hearing loss - ipsilateral central deafness
Middle & inferior cerebellar peduncle	Ipsilateral limb and gait ataxia
Descending sympathetic tract	Ipsilateral Horner's syndrome (ptosis, miosis, & anhydrosis)

External links

• http://isc.temple.edu/neuroanatomy/lab/lesions/18.htm - inferior
• http://isc.temple.edu/neuroanatomy/lab/lesions/20.htm - mid
• http://isc.temple.edu/neuroanatomy/lab/lesions/22.htm - superior