J Korean Med Assoc.  2002 Dec;45(12):1422-1431. 10.5124/jkma.2002.45.12.1422.

Symptoms and Signs of Stroke

• Kim JS

• KMID: 2347495
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2002.45.12.1422

Abstract

The symptoms and signs of stroke vary according to the location of the lesions. Middle cerebral artery territory infarction produces symptoms such as contralateral hemiparesis (worse in the arm than in the leg), hemihypesthesia, dysarthria, aphasia (left lesion), and hemineglect (right lesion). Anterior cerebral artery infarction produces hemiparesis worse in the leg than in the arm, abulia, apathy, and urinary incontinence. Posterior cerebral artery infarction produces hemianopia. An occlusion of small penetrating branches such as lenticulostriate arteries or thalamogeniculate arteries is responsible for the so-called lacunar syndrome : pure hemiparesis, ataxic-hemparesis, dysarthria clumsy hand syndrome, or pure sensory stroke. The symptoms and signs of the brain stem infarction also vary greatly according to the area of involvement. Generally, they are characterized by virtigo, dizziness, diplopia, and ataxia. Major occlusion of the basilar artery may produce grave conditions characterized by altered consciousness, quadriparesis, and horizontal gaze paresis. Intracerebral hemorrhage occur in the basal ganglia, thalamus, lobar area, pons, and the cerebellum, in order of decreasing frequency. The symptoms and signs are dependent on the location and the amount of hemorrhages. The symptoms of subarachnoid hemorrhages are characterized by sudden headache and neck stiffness.

Keyword

Stroke; Symptoms; Signs

MeSH Terms

Apathy
Aphasia
Arm
Arteries
Ataxia
Basal Ganglia
Basilar Artery
Brain Stem Infarctions
Cerebellum
Cerebral Hemorrhage
Consciousness
Diplopia
Dizziness
Dysarthria
Hand
Headache
Hemianopsia
Hemorrhage
Infarction
Infarction, Anterior Cerebral Artery
Infarction, Posterior Cerebral Artery
Leg
Middle Cerebral Artery
Neck
Paresis
Pons
Quadriplegia
Stroke*
Stroke, Lacunar
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Thalamus
Urinary Incontinence