An atypical pontine infarction presenting with segmental sensory disturbance and uncrossed sensory symptomatology: case report

We reported a patient who presented with analgesia and thermanaesthesia from the face to T4 dermatome on the contralateral side to the lesion due to infarction of the dorsal tegmentum of the caudal pons, which was inconsistent with classical dorsolateral pontine infarction. We speculated that the lesion affected the trigeminothalamic tract deriving from the second-order neurons on the contralateral side and partial lateral spinothalamic tracts carrying pain and temperature sensation above T4 dermatome, while the spinal trigeminal tract and its nucleus on the ipsilateral side and other parts of lateral spinothalamic tracts were spared. This case showed the atypical presentations of dorsolateral pontine infarction and may provide clinicians with new diagnostic ideas.