Question

A 72-year-old man with a long standing history of inadequately controlled hypertension and type II diabetes presents with sudden onset of slurred speech and difficulty swallowing. His examination is significant for marked dysarthria and limb ataxia affecting the right arm and right facial weakness. Which of the following is the most likely location of the lesion responsible for these symptoms?
A. amygdala
B. left occipital lobe
C. left pons*
D. left thalamus
E. right caudate

Answer 1

Answer: The answer is C; left pons.

Explanation:

The patient presents with the symptoms that are common with dysarthria-clumsy hand syndrome. This is one of the lacunar stroke syndromes where dysarthria is common. A x-ray or other imaging would reveal lesions in the contralateral pons.