Regional cerebral blood flows (rCBF) were studied in 6 patients with lateral medullary
infarction and 4 patients with pontine
infarction, using stable
xenon computed tomography method. In lateral medullary
infarction, the rCBF and
acetazolamide reactivity were decreased in the ipsilateral cerebellum and the rCBF was decreased with normal
acetazolamide reactivity in the contralateral frontal lobe in one patient accompanying ipsilateral cerebellar
infarction. rCBF was decreased with normal
acetazolamide reactivity in the cerebellum in 3 patients, and both rCBF and
acetazolamide reactivity were decreased in the whole brain in 2 patients. In pontine
infarction, rCBF was decreased in ipsilateral frontal lobe and contralateral cerebellum in one patient, rCBF was decreased in the cerebellum with normal
acetazolamide reactivity in the other patients. The hypoperfusion with normal
acetazolamide reactivity was considered to be due to
diaschisis. The rCBF decrease in the remote areas in patients with
brainstem infarction was considered to be due to
diaschisis or underlying
arteriosclerosis.