Crossed Ataxia

Abstract

Background and Purpose— Ever since the seminal description of ataxic hemiparesis contralateral to a pontine lesion by Miller-Fisher, the question of why contralesional crossing pontocerebellar fibers do not more frequently produce ipsilesional hemiataxia was raised. The few cases of “quadrataxic hemiparesis” or bilateral leg ataxia remain exceptions. Summary of Case— We report an even more unusual variant, namely “crossed ataxia” of the contralesional arm and the ipsilesional leg subsequent to an anteromedial pontine ischemic stroke. Conclusions— MRI diffusion tensor imaging tractography shows that caudal contralesional crossing pontocerebellar fibers (those for the leg) travel trough the lesion, whereas more rostral fibers (those for the arm) are spared.