9th Annual WML Academic Symposium

Presenter(s): Campbell Connell, Meredith Culbertson, Andrew Perry
Title: Evaluation of Ischemic Stroke in Rostral Pons
Developed under the guidance of Dr. Bonnie Brenseke and Dr. Terence Mitchell , School of Osteopathic Medicine

During dissection of an 88-year-old African American female, a 1 cm area of cavitation and liquefactive necrosis in the pons was identified. The artery near the pons has moderate intimal thickening and lipid deposits suggesting vascular ischemia. While an ischemic stroke in the pons is not unheard of, a rostral pontine infarct is unique as most pontine infarcts occur caudally. Histological findings suggest this individual’s stroke was caused by blockage of the superior cerebellar artery. The individual would have upper motor neuron symptoms on the contralateral side of her body including increased deep tendon reflexes, disuse atrophy, and hemiparesis.