Parkinsonism in patients with lacunar infarcts of the basal ganglia

Forty-five patients with CT findings of lacunar infarcts in the basal ganglia (LIBG) were included in this study. The patients were divided into those with lacunes in the caudate nucleus, lentiform nucleus or both caudate and lentiform nuclei. Linear measurements of ventricular spaces were also performed. Clinical evaluation disclosed parkinsonism in 17 patients (38%), strokes with contralateral hemiparesis in 14 (31%), while 9 (20%) had both parkinsonism and hemiparesis. The location and number of infarcts did not correlate with the clinical presentation. We conclude that LIBG are commonly associated with parkinsonism and that CT studies may help in the delineation of vascular parkinsonism.