Wernekink Commissure Syndrome: A Rare Cause of Bilateral Cerebellar Syndrome.

Abstract

Purpose: Focal signs are a big deal in neurology and are among the most important clues leading to diagnosis and localization. Wernekink commissure syndrome is due to lesions in the caudal paramedian midbrain involving the entire decussation of the superior cerebellar peduncles, resulting in the clinical hallmark of a bilateral cerebellar syndrome.

Case report: A 79-year-old man presented with sudden, severe unsteadiness associated with slurring of speech, binocular double vision, and bilateral hand tremor. Examination showed right INO, moderately severe dysarthria, bilateral dysmetria and dysdiadochokinesia, with severe truncal ataxia and bilateral upper and lower limb ataxia. Also, bilateral coarse tremor was noted in both hands which was present at rest, action and on reaching for objects. Brain MRI revealed an acute infarction involving the Wernekinck decussation in the right caudal midbrain and mesencephalo-pontine junction.

Conclusion: The differential of Wernekink Commissure Syndrome is complex, and localization and lateralization are extremely difficult owing to prominent bilateral cerebellar symptoms. The finding of an associated unilateral INO in some cases makes it possible to confidently narrow the list of differentials and localize the lesion to the paramedian tegmentum ipsilateral to the non-adducting eye.