Parkinsonism in patients with lucanar infarcts of the basal ganglia

Eur Neurol. 1995;35(1):46-9. doi: 10.1159/000117089.

Abstract

Forty-five patients with CT findings of lucanar infarcts in the basal ganglia (LIBG) were included in this study. The patients were divided into those with lacunes in the caudate nucleus, lentiform nucleus or both caudate and lentiform nuclei. Linear measurements of ventricular spaces were also performed. Clinical evaluation disclosed parkinsonism in 17 patients (38%), strokes with contralateral hemiparesis in 14 (31%), while 9 (20%) had both parkinsonism and hemiparesis. The location and number of infarcts did not correlate with the clinical presentation. We conclude that LIBG are commonly associated with parkinsonism and that CT studies may help in the delineation of vascular parkinsonism.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Basal Ganglia / blood supply*
  • Basal Ganglia / physiopathology
  • Brain Mapping
  • Caudate Nucleus / blood supply
  • Caudate Nucleus / physiopathology
  • Cerebral Infarction / diagnosis
  • Cerebral Infarction / physiopathology*
  • Corpus Striatum / blood supply
  • Corpus Striatum / physiopathology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neurologic Examination
  • Parkinson Disease / diagnosis
  • Parkinson Disease / physiopathology*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed