Sequential change of the pontine shape after cerebrovascular strokes.

Pontine cross-sectional area (Ap) and its area factor (f) were correlated with the lapse of time from the onset of stroke to death in 77 autopsy cases cerebrovascular strokes. In the cases without pontine hemorrhage, the sequential change of Ap was different from that of f, which indicated that the recovery of shape lagged behind the recovery of size. The result was attributed in part to a plastic property of the edematous brain substance and was considered important in evaluating angiographical changes of the brain and some pressure cones at autopsy.