Lateral pontine syndrome

Occlusion of AICA results in lateral pontine syndrome (Marie-Foix syndrome), also known as AICA syndrome. The symptoms include sudden onset vertigo and vomiting, nystagmus, falling to the side of the lesion (due to damage to vestibular nuclei), ipsilateral loss of sensation of the face (due to damage to principal sensory trigeminal nucleus), ipsilateral facial paralysis (due to damage to the facial nucleus) and ipsilateral hearing loss and tinnitus (due to damage to the cochlear nuclei).

A lateral pontine syndrome is a lesion which is similar to the lateral medullary syndrome, but because it occurs in the pons, it also involves the cranial nerve nuclei of the pons.

It can be caused by an interruption to the blood supply of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery.

Symptoms Damage to the following areas produces symptoms (from medial to lateral):

Lateral spinothalamic tract Contralateral loss of pain and temperature from the trunk and extremities.

Facial nucleus & facial Nerve (CN.VII) (1) Ipsilateral paralysis of the upper and lower face (lower motor neuron lesion). (2) Ipsilateral loss of lacrimation and reduced salivation. (3) Ipsilateral loss of taste from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue. (4) Loss of corneal relfex (efferent limb).

Spinal trigeminal nucleus and tract Ipsilateral loss of pain and temperature sensation from the face (facial hemianesthesia)

Vestibular Nuclei and intraaxial nerve fibers Nystagmus, nausea, vomiting, and vertigo

Cochlear nuclei and intraaxial nerve fibers Hearing loss - ipsilateral central deafness

Middle & inferior cerebellar peduncle Ipsilateral limb and gait ataxia

Descending sympathetic tract Ipsilateral Horner's syndrome (ptosis, miosis, & anhydrosis)