Posterior cerebral artery syndrome

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Posterior cerebral artery syndrome
Classification and external resources

Outer surface of cerebral hemisphere, showing areas supplied by cerebral arteries. (Yellow is region supplied by posterior cerebral artery.)
ICD-10 G46.2
eMedicine neuro/322
MeSH D020762

Posterior cerebral artery syndrome is a condition whereby the blood supply from the posterior cerebral artery (PCA) is restricted, leading to a reduction of the function of the portions of the brain supplied by that vessel: the occipital lobe, the inferomedial temporal lobe, a large portion of the thalamus, and the upper brainstem and midbrain. [1][O'Sullivan, 2007].

Depending upon the location and severity of the occlusion, signs and symptoms may vary within the population affected with PCA syndrome. Blockages of the proximal portion of the vessel produce only minor deficits due to the collateral blood flow from the opposite hemisphere via the posterior communicating artery. In contrast, distal occlusions result in more serious complications. Visual deficits, such as agnosia, prosopagnosia or cortical blindness (with bilateral infarcts) may be a product of ischemic damage to occipital lobe. Occlusions of the branches of the PCA that supply the thalamus can result in central post-stroke pain and lesions to the subthalamic branches can produce “a wide variety of deficits”.[1]

Signs and Symptoms [edit]

Peripheral Territory Lesions

  1. Contralateral homonymous hemianopsia[1][2]
  2. cortical blindness with bilateral involvement of the occipital lobe branches[3]
  3. visual agnosia[1]
  4. prosopagnosia[1]
  5. dyslexia, Anomic aphasia, color naming and discrimination problems[1]
  6. memory defect[1]
  7. topographic disorientation[1]

Central Territory Lesions

  1. central post-stroke (thalamic) pain: spontaneous pain, dysesthesias and sensory impairments[1]
  2. involuntary movements: chorea, intention tremor, hemiballismus[1]
  3. contralateral hemiplegia[1]
  4. Weber’s syndrome: occulomotor nerve palsy[4]
  5. Bálint's syndrome: loss of voluntary eye movements optic ataxia, asimultagnosia (inability to understand visual objects)[5]

References [edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k O'Sullivan, Susan (2007). "Physical Rehabilitation", p.711-713. F.A. Davis, Philadelphia. ISBN 0-8036-1247-8
  2. ^ The Internet Stroke Center. Stroke syndromes: Posterior cerebral artery - unilateral occipital. [Internet]. [updated 1999 July; cited 2011 May 13]. Retrieved from http://www.strokecenter.org/prof/syndromes/syndromePage10.htm
  3. ^ The Internet Stroke Center. Stroke syndromes: Cortical blindness. [Internet]. [updated 1999 July; cited 2011 May 13]. Retrieved from http://www.strokecenter.org/prof/syndromes/syndromePage3.htm
  4. ^ The Internet Stroke Center. Stroke syndromes: Weber's syndrome. [Internet]. [updated 1999 July; cited 2011 May 13]. Retrieved from http://www.strokecenter.org/prof/syndromes/syndromePage11.htm
  5. ^ The Internet Stroke Center. Stroke syndromes: Balint Syndrome. [Internet]. [updated 1999 July; cited 2011 May 13]. Retrieved from http://www.strokecenter.org/prof/syndromes/syndromePage4.htm

External links [edit]

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Brain ischemia/
cerebral infarction
(ischemic stroke/TIA)
TACI, PACI
POCI
General
Intracranial hemorrhage
(hemorrhagic stroke)
Extra-axial
Cerebral/Intra-axial
Brainstem
Aneurysm
Other/general
Spinal cord/
vascular myelopathy
Brainstem
Medulla (CN 8, 9, 10, 12)
Pons (CN 5, 6, 7, 8)
Midbrain (CN 3, 4)
Other
Cerebellum
Basal ganglia
Cortex
Other
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