Weber's syndrome
Weber's syndrome | |
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Midbrain cross section showing lesion
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Classification and external resources | |
ICD-10 | G46.3 |
ICD-9-CM | 344.89 |
DiseasesDB | 31247 |
MeSH | D020526 |
Weber's syndrome (superior alternating hemiplegia) is a form of stroke characterized by the presence of an ipsilateral oculomotor nerve palsy and contralateral hemiparesis or hemiplegia.
Cause and presentation[edit]
This lesion is usually unilateral and affects several structures in the midbrain including:
Structure damaged | Effect |
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substantia nigra | contralateral parkinsonism because its dopaminergic projections to the basal ganglia innervate the ipsilateral hemisphere motor field, leading to a movement disorder of the contralateral body. |
corticospinal fibers | contralateral hemiparesis and typical upper motor neuron findings. It is contralateral because it occurs before the decussation in the medulla. |
corticobulbar tract | difficulty with contralateral lower facial muscles and hypoglossal nerve functions |
oculomotor nerve fibers | ipsilateral oculomotor nerve palsy with a drooping eyelid and fixed wide pupil pointed down and out. This leads to diplopia |
It is caused by midbrain infarction as a result of occlusion of the paramedian branches of the posterior cerebral artery or of basilar bifurcation perforating arteries.[1]
History[edit]
It carries the name of Sir Hermann David Weber, a German-born physician working in London, who described the condition in 1863.[2][3] It is unrelated to Sturge-Weber syndrome, Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome or Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome. These conditions are named for his son Frederick Parkes Weber.
See also[edit]
- Alternating hemiplegia of childhood
- Lateral medullary syndrome
- Lateral pontine syndrome
- Medial medullary syndrome
- Medial pontine syndrome
References[edit]
- ^ Weber's syndrome at GPnotebook
- ^ Weber HD (1863). "A contribution to the pathology of the crura cerebri". Medico-Chirurgical Transactions 46: 121–139.
- ^ Weber's syndrome at Who Named It?
External links[edit]
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