[Regressing median peduncular infarction].

A case of a medial and caudal infarction of the midbrain in a 56 years old woman is reported. The clinical syndrome included a rapidly recovering sleepiness, an ophthalmoplegia related to damage to the caudal part of the oculomotor nuclear complex, a slow extrapyramidal dysarthria and a severe ataxia. The latter was characterized by the prevalent involvement of posture control, resulting from an axial hypotonia and the lack of balance reflexes. The CT scan showed a low density area in the central part of the midbrain. Electrophysiological investigations were carried out to study the impairment of the sensory and auditory tracts in the brainstem. In spite of the gravity of initial signs, recovery was good and the patient led a normal life 8 months later.