[The electroencephalogram and lacunar infarcts]

The authors compare the conventional EEG of 16 patients with lacunar infarct, 18 patients suffering from subcortical infarct and 59 patients suffering from cortico-subcortical infarct, all confirmed by CT scan. They remark that while among patients with single or multiple lacunar infarct, 62% of the EEG turned out to be normal and 31% showed unilateral abnormalities, among those suffering from subcortical and cortico-subcortical infarct the EEG was normal only in 14% and showed unilateral abnormalities or focal alterations in 74% of the patients (chi square = p less than 0.01). According to these results the authors discuss the EEG's value in the differential diagnosis of lacunar infarcts and the influence on prognosis and on the therapeutical and diagnostic approach of these patients.