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Brain Infarct Segmentation and Registration on MRI or CT for Lesion-symptom Mapping
Published on: September 25, 2019
Lacunar versus non-lacunar syndromes
Sara Micheli1, Francesco Corea
1Neurorehabilitation Unit, Trevi Hospital, Trevi, Italy. sarmicheli@gmail.com
Frontiers of Neurology and Neuroscience
|March 2, 2012
Summary
Lacunar stroke, often attributed to small-vessel disease, can have varied causes and significant functional outcomes. Understanding these diverse etiologies is crucial for patient prognosis and treatment strategies.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Stroke Medicine
- Cerebrovascular Disease
Background:
- Small-vessel disease is traditionally considered the primary cause of lacunar stroke.
- Lacunar infarcts typically present with motor/sensitive deficits or ataxia, lacking cortical involvement.
- These infarcts are usually small, deep, and within a single perforating artery's territory.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the classical lacunar syndrome.
- To discuss the debated etiologies of lacunar stroke.
- To highlight alternative causes beyond small-vessel disease and their impact.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of lacunar stroke.
- Analysis of clinical features associated with lacunar infarcts.
- Discussion of imaging findings and etiological factors.
Main Results:
- While small-vessel disease is common, other causes like cardioembolism and atherosclerosis are increasingly recognized, particularly in larger lacunae.
- Lacunar strokes are not always benign and can lead to significant disability, especially when near critical brain areas.
- Clinical presentation varies, and the etiology can influence functional outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Lacunar stroke etiology is more complex than previously thought.
- Alternative causes and infarct location significantly impact functional outcomes.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the spectrum of lacunar stroke causes and their clinical relevance.
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