The clinical and MRI correlate of ischaemia in the ventromedial midbrain: Claude's syndrome

Abstract

The eponymous syndrome of Claude is caused by a lesion of the red nucleus and adjacent third nerve nucleus, resulting in the combination of an ipsilateral oculomotor palsy and contralateral ataxia. The MRI correlate of this syndrome has only occasionally been described. We present three cases with MRI findings which confirm the association of this clinical syndrome with infarction of the ventromedial midbrain. The coexistence of hypertension and small vessel ischaemia in two cases suggests this type of infarct may arise as a result of small vessel disease.