One and one-half syndrome with supranuclear facial weakness: magnetic resonance imaging localization

Arch Neurol. 1999 Dec;56(12):1509-11. doi: 10.1001/archneur.56.12.1509.

Abstract

Objective: To provide clinicoanatomical correlation for a small pontine tegmental ischemic stroke producing the one and one-half syndrome associated with supranuclear facial weakness.

Design: Case report.

Setting: Tertiary care center.

Patient: A 70-year-old man developed left-sided facial weakness sparing the forehead, a left internuclear ophthalmoplegia, and a complete left horizontal gaze palsy immediately after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a small lesion in the left paramedian aspect of the dorsal pontine tegmentum.

Main outcome and results: Electromyographic findings were consistent with supranuclear facial involvement. The patient had nearly complete recovery after 1 year.

Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first report of supranuclear facial weakness in association with the one and one-half syndrome. The location of the lesion provides evidence of the existence of corticofugal fibers that extend to the facial nucleus in the dorsal paramedian pontine tegmentum.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Facial Nerve / pathology
  • Facial Nerve / physiopathology
  • Facial Paralysis / pathology*
  • Facial Paralysis / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Muscle Weakness / pathology
  • Muscle Weakness / physiopathology
  • Neural Pathways / pathology
  • Neural Pathways / physiopathology
  • Ophthalmoplegia / pathology*
  • Ophthalmoplegia / physiopathology
  • Pons / blood supply
  • Pons / pathology*
  • Pons / physiopathology
  • Stroke / pathology*
  • Stroke / physiopathology