Peripheral type facial palsy caused by pontine lacunar infarction

Cases of central nervous system (CNS) disorders manifesting peripheral type facial palsy are rare. We report a 70-year-old man with a small infarct of the pontine tegmentum who presented with acute-onset peripheral facial palsy. In the case of infarction in this area, combined symptoms of peripheral facial palsy and abducens nerve palsy are often found, but peripheral facial palsy may occur as the only symptom as in our present case. In the differential diagnosis of peripheral facial nerve palsy, we should also consider the possibility of stroke such as pontine tegmentum infarction.