CT-verified brain stem hemorrhage with survival

A 38-year-old hypertensive woman presented with acute onset of cranial nerve and long tract signs referable to a lesion in the right dorsolateral pons. A hemorrhage in the suspected area was demonstrated by CT. Although brain stem hemorrhage was previously thought to be only rarely compatible with survival, our patient survived and recovered sufficiently to go home. CT indicates a more favorable prognosis for brain stem hemorrhage than has been previously suspected.