Thalamic pain syndrome of Dejerine-Roussy

For the general practitioner it is extremely difficult to make the diagnosis of the thalamic pain syndrome of Dejerine-Roussy which may develop in patients who have suffered a cerebrovascular accident. Because of this inability, the syndrome is considered rare in Africa. At the Teaching Hospital of the University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria two cases were seen recently however. We hereby present those two cases and discuss the aetiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment. This is intended to help the general practitioner to overcome the difficulties usually experienced in diagnosis and treatment of such cases.