Lateral pontine syndrome

Lateral pontine syndrome, also known as Marie-Foix syndrome or Marie-Foix-Alajouanine syndrome, refers to one of the brainstem stroke syndromes of the lateral aspect of the pons.

Clinical presentation

There is a characteristic clinical presentation ^1,2,4:

• ipsilateral

  • limb ataxia: cerebellar tracts

  • loss of pain and temperature sensation of the face: spinal trigeminal tract and nucleus

  • facial weakness: facial nerve (CN VII) 

  • hearing loss, vertigo and nystagmus: vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII)

• contralateral

  • loss of pain and temperature sensation: spinothalamic tracts

Pathology

The lateral pontine syndrome occurs due to occlusion of perforating branches of the basilar and anterior inferior cerebellar (AICA) arteries ^1,2. 

History and etymology

The syndrome was first described by Pierre Marie (1853-1940), Charles Foix (1882-1927), and Théophile Alajouanine (1890-1980), French neurologists, in 1922 ³.