Primary Cerebral Arterial Occlusive Disease in Children

Of 87 children with acute acquired hemiplegia, 17 had primary arterial occlusions. These cases are analyzed in detail, and an angiographic classification presented. Each group showed a similarity between morphology and prognosis. Of interest are (1) correlation between the pattern of lenticulostriate artery occlusion and that of muscular weakness in basal occlusion without telangiectasia, (2) transcerebral anastomoses between lenticulostriate vessels and leptomeningeal branches of the middle cerebral artery in basal occlusion with telangiectasia, (3) angiographic findings of periarteritis nodosa. Angiography is particularly indicated if hemiplegia is associated with subarachnoid hemorrhage or with headache.