Transient muteness followed by dysarthria in patients with pontomesencephalic stroke. Report of two cases

Dysarthria is the principal motor abnormality following vascular damage to pontine paramedian structures, owing to the involvement of corticobulbar fibres. Here we describe 2 cases of adults affected by dysarthria following transient muteness as the result of a stroke in pontomesencephalic structures. Their clinical outcome was very similar to that of young patients who have undergone surgery of the 4th ventricle. Recently the importance of pons involvement has also been underlined in these cases. This case report suggests the existence of a functional network for speech, in which the pontomesencephalon is an important station for the triggering and the efficacy of verbal production.