Dystonia caused by putamino-capsulo-caudate vascular lesions

Three cases of unilateral dystonia of vascular origin are presented and compared with those in the literature. Damage in the region of the lenticulostriate arteries accounted for ischaemic lesions of the putamino-capsulo-caudate region, the external pallidum probably also being involved. This syndrome appears if the ischaemic accident took place during childhood. The functions of each of these structures and the possible role of the anterior limb of the internal capsule are discussed.