BACKGROUND: Although pontine @entity64 account for a small percentage of all ischaemic events, they can be associated with significant @entity717 . These lesions may be missed on computed tomography and therefore magnetic resonance imaging is generally preferred for the assessment of @entity64 . The aetiopathogenesis of isolated pontine @entity1188 , not due to a significant compromise (occlusion or dissection) in the vertebrobasilar territory, still remains to be fully characterised. These @entity64 present with different symptoms, depending on the lesion location and size, partly reflecting the anatomical variability of the vertebrobasilar vessels. Progressive @entity16 is relatively common and has been associated with the extension of such lesions. However, many @entity1 with significant @entity1188 in the pons will do well in the future and initial diffusion-weighted imaging may not add useful prognostication to the clinical assessment. We discuss here a case where an initially progressive presentation was associated with a marked improvement in both clinical and radiological assessments at 42  days. CASE PRESENTATION: A 49-year-old white British @entity1 presented with left-sided weakness, @entity2055 , unsteadiness, @entity10789 and @entity7364 . A baseline magnetic resonance imaging scan with diffusion-weighted imaging, T1-weighted and T2-weighted sequences showed an acute bilateral pontine @entity1188 . On a repeat scan at 42  days, there was a 57.5% decrease in the size of the lesion on the high-resolution three-dimensional T1-weighted image and a corresponding improvement in the symptoms and the clinical assessments of this @entity1 . The reduction in @entity1188 size was also comparable to the decrease calculated between the baseline diffusion-weighted and the follow-up fluid attenuated inversion recovery sequences. CONCLUSION: This case report discusses the significant clinical improvement and corresponding lesion reduction in a @entity1 that presented with worsening neurological symptoms and was diagnosed with acute bilateral ischaemic pontine @entity1188 . Further studies, utilising structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging with follow-up scans, are needed to provide better insights into the underlying aetiopathology and recovery mechanisms of pontine @entity64 . These will help define the relationship between imaging parameters and outcome allowing for better prognosis along with the development of relevant rehabilitation programs for this group of @entity1 .

XXXX recovery and lesion reduction following acute isolated bilateral ischaemic pontine @entity1188 : a case report.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'patient', 'man'] @entity64 :: ('MESH:D020521', 'Disease') :: ['strokes', 'stroke', 'brainstem strokes'] @entity10789 :: ('MESH:D002527', 'Disease') :: ['cerebellar ataxic dysarthria'] @entity16 :: ('MESH:D009422', 'Disease') :: ['neurological deterioration'] @entity7364 :: ('MESH:D055154', 'Disease') :: ['dysphonia'] @entity1188 :: ('MESH:D007238', 'Disease') :: ['infarcts', 'infarct', 'infarction'] @entity717 :: ('MESH:D009069', 'Disease') :: ['initial disability'] @entity2055 :: ('MESH:D001259', 'Disease') :: ['incoordination']
@entity64 :: (MESH:D020521,Disease) :: ['Stroke']
