The Great Masquerader: Recurrent Ischemic Strokes Secondary to Meningovascular Syphilis in a Man With Cardiovascular Stroke Risk Factors.

A male in his 60s with stroke risk factors presented with confusion and word-finding difficulties. He was diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke in the right basal ganglia. He was started on secondary stroke prevention measures including dual antiplatelet therapy and a high-dose statin. A highly reactive rapid plasma reagin (RPR) was performed as part of the workup and found to be positive. Follow-up fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (TPA) test was also positive, confirming a diagnosis of syphilis. He was discharged home with a scheduled course of antibiotic treatment for tertiary syphilis but returned due to a new episode of transient facial paralysis. Further workup and physical exam findings revealed the patient had neurosyphilis. He was started on the appropriate antibiotic therapy, which significantly improved his confusion and prevented new episodes of stroke.

Cerebellar Stroke in a Young Adult Following an Amusement Park Ride.

The incidence of stroke in young individuals has been showing an increasing trend. In such cases, atypical mechanisms of stroke should be considered. Here, we report a case of a 37-year-old healthy female who presented with complaints of right-sided ataxia and clumsiness that started after an amusement park ride where she was swung rapidly. Imaging revealed an infarct in the right cerebellar hemisphere. This case report highlights certain mechanisms that can cause a stroke in this situation, with special emphasis on recognition, timely medical management, public awareness of such risk factors, and the prevention of complications.

A Case of Bilateral Thalamic Infarcts Involving the Artery of Percheron in the Setting of COVID-19.

The artery of Percheron (AOP) is a rare anatomic variant, characterized by a single thalamoperforating artery arising from the P1 segment of the posterior cerebral artery that bifurcates to supply bilateral thalami with variable vascular supply to the midbrain. The occlusion of this artery is responsible for bilateral thalamic stroke with or without midbrain involvement. Since December 2019, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has led to a worldwide pandemic. Acute ischemic stroke is a rare but known manifestation of COVID-19. There have only been a few reports of bilateral deep cerebral involvement in COVID-19 infection. In the absence of risk factors for such events, we suspect COVID-19 may have a contributory role. In this case report, we present a case of AOP infarction presenting as transient loss of consciousness, intermittent anisocoria, dysarthria, and right-sided weakness in the setting of COVID-19 infection. Given the degree of variation in clinical presentation for AOP infarcts and lack of evidence of ischemia on initial imaging studies, many patients may miss the time window for tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) administration. This case highlights the importance of timely neurological evaluation in patients presenting with COVID-19 and neurological complaints. Increased community awareness of neurological manifestations of AOP infarctions is of utmost importance as early detection and intervention improve clinical outcomes.

What is the diagnostic value of head MRI after negative head CT in ED patients presenting with symptoms atypical of stroke?

The diagnostic value of head magnetic resonance imaging after negative head computed tomography for emergency department patients with vague neurologic symptoms, such as dizziness and altered mental status, remains an ongoing discussion. The objective of this study is to detect the subgroup of patients with such presentations having minor strokes whom may benefit from primary and secondary stroke prevention. We conducted a retrospective analysis and stratified patient risk factors associated with positive findings on subsequent head MRI ordered by the emergency department physician following a normal head CT. Two hundred fifty-two patients presenting with atypical stroke symptoms to the emergency department had a negative head CT followed by head MRI within 24 h ordered by emergency department clinician (123 males and 129 females; mean age of 59.4). Twenty nine of the 252 patients (11.5 %) had findings of acute to subacute infarct on the subsequent MRI. Positive MRI findings were statistically correlated with the following variables: age (p < 0.001), history of hyperlipidemia (p = 0.019), hypertension (p < 0.001), diabetes (p = 0.004), anticoagulation use (p = 0.029), and prior transient ischemic attack or stroke (p < 0.001). The mean age of the MRI-positive group was 74.1 years, with a mean difference of 16.7 ± 2.4 years more than the MRI-negative group (95 % CI, 11.8-21.5 years) (t = 6.8, p < 0.001). Emergency physicians caring for patients with vague neurologic complaints should maintain a lower threshold for ordering a head MRI despite a negative head CT for elderly patients with a history of prior stroke or transient ischemic attack to exclude a CT occult or minor ischemic stroke.

Altered Consciousness After Acute Lacunar Infarction of the Corona Radiata in Patients With Severe White Matter Change

With an increasing proportion of the elderly, dementia due to severe cerebral white matter change is frequently observed. Because these patients cannot express their symptoms effectively, the recognition of stroke can be delayed. In addition, clinical characteristics of their stroke might be different. We reported on three patients with severe leukoaraiosis, who exhibited altered consciousness after acute lacunar infarction in the corona radiata. This clinico-radiological discrepancy may have resulted from different susceptibility to ischemia in patients with severe white matter change.