Journal of Clinical Neurology  2011;7(3):156-158

doi:10.3988/jcn.2011.7.3.156

Ipsilateral Tilt and Contralateral Sensory Change of Neck in Cortical Infarction.

Suk Yun KANG 1 ; Hyeo Il MA ; Mi Jeong LEE ; Seok Beom KWON ; San JUNG ; Yun Joong KIM ; Sung Hee HWANG

Affiliations

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Keywords

neck; cerebral infarction; cortical representation; motor cortex; magnetic resonance imaging; sternocleidomastoid muscle

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Numerous neck muscles are involved in neck movements, and so isolated neck weakness is extremely uncommon in cerebral infarction. CASE REPORT: We report herein the case of a 65-year-old woman with hypertension and acute cortical infarction, presenting with ipsilateral head tilt and contralateral sensory changes in the neck and shoulder area, which has never been described before. CONCLUSIONS: Transient neck weakness and sensory deficits can occur in acute cortical infarction. The motor representation of the neck muscles can be at the same level of the cortical sensory representation, near to the level of the trunk representation, which is in contrast to Penfield's findings. Several possible mechanisms for the ipsilateral tilt are described.