Brain & Nervous System Stroke Stroke and the Pons Region of the Brain By Jose Vega MD, PhD linkedin Jose Vega MD, PhD, is a board-certified neurologist and published researcher specializing in stroke. Learn about our editorial process Jose Vega MD, PhD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Nicholas R. Metrus, MD on February 21, 2021 linkedin Nicholas R. Metrus, MD, is a board-certified neurologist and neuro-oncologist. He currently serves at the Glasser Brain Tumor Center in Summit, New Jersey. Learn about our Medical Review Board Nicholas R. Metrus, MD on February 21, 2021 Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Symptoms Causes Risk Factors Diagnosis Treatment The pons is a region of the brain located in the brainstem. The pons is relatively small, and it is located in the lower part of the brain, connecting the cerebral cortex with the medulla oblongata. The pons contains nerves and nerve tracts (pathways) that integrate brain functions such as movement and sensory messages between the brain and the body. The pons also coordinates balance in the head, neck, and body and plays a primary role in eye movement, sleeping, dreaming, digestion, swallowing, breathing, and the heartbeat. In scientific terms, the pons is sometimes known as the hindbrain, a name that is based on the location of the pons in relation to the rest of the brain during the development of the brain in the embryo (developing baby). Verywell / Hilary Allison Symptoms Strokes that occur in the pons can cause a variety of serious symptoms, despite the small area of damage involved. Some of the symptoms of a pontine stroke include a combination of the following: Balance difficultyVertigo (spinning sensation)DizzinessDouble visionLoss of coordinationSwallowing difficultyDifficulty articulating wordsNumbnessLoss of sensationWeakness in one half of the bodyNausea A pontine stroke can cause a severe condition called locked-in syndrome. People who suffer from locked-in syndrome can be awake, alert, and able to think and understand, but are only able to move their eyes. Causes A stroke involving the pons can be caused by either a blood clot (ischemic stroke) or a bleed (hemorrhagic stroke). An ischemic stroke occurs when a blood clot blocks the blood flow through an artery to a certain region in the brain. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel ruptures, reducing or halting the flow of blood to a region in the brain. Whether a stroke is ischemic or hemorrhagic, once the blood supply to a region of the brain is interrupted, brain cells begin to die, resulting in brain damage. The bleeding of hemorrhage can also cause damage due to pressure and irritation to nearby brain structures. The physical and cognitive (memory, thinking) abilities controlled by the area of the brain where a stroke occurs become affected. The extent of damage depends on the location and size of the stroke. In rare instances, a stroke involving the pons, typically called a pontine stroke, may be the result of an injury to an artery caused by sudden head or neck trauma. This can happen because the blood vessels that supply blood to the pons and the rest of the brainstem are located in the back of the neck, and may become injured as result of neck trauma or sudden pressure or movements of the head or neck. Risk Factors The risk factors for a pontine stroke are the same as those for strokes in other areas of the brain, including: High blood pressureDiabetesHeart diseaseAtrial fibrillationSmokingOlder ageFamily medical history of strokeObesityUnhealthy cholesterol and fat levelsPhysical inactivityDrug use Diagnosis Diagnosis of a pontine stroke requires a thorough neurologic examination. Some diagnostic imaging tests, such as brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and brain magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) or computerized tomography (CT) angiogram, can help confirm the diagnosis of a pontine stroke. Treatment Stroke treatment depends on getting medical attention as soon as possible. Treatment with the clot-dissolving drug tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) can be effective for the treatment of ischemic stroke only if it is administered within three hours of the onset of stroke symptoms. Stroke treatment guidelines published jointly by the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association in 2018 strongly recommend the use of tPA in eligible patients, but note that doctors need to evaluate patient eligibility before administering this treatment.Factors that play a role in eligibility include age, blood sugar levels, and blood pressure. In certain patients, tPA can be used up to 4.5 hours after onset of stroke symptoms. During recovery after a stroke, there are several stroke treatments that can help maximize improvement, including blood thinners, fluid management, treatment of heart problems, and maintaining adequate nutrition. A Word From Verywell Recovery from a pontine stroke is possible. If you have experienced a pontine stroke, once your symptoms stabilize over time, the focus of your recovery will be based on preventing complications such as choking and preventing further strokes from happening. Strokes in the brain stem do not affect language ability, and this makes it easier to participate in rehabilitation therapy. Vertigo and double vision typically resolve if the stroke is mild or moderate. Physical therapy and rehabilitation are important components of stroke recovery. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Hocker S, Wijdicks E. Recovery from locked-in syndrome. JAMA Neurol. 2015;72(7):832-3. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2015.0479 American Stroke Association. Brain stem stroke. Updated December 2018. Xia C, Chen H, Wu S, Xu W. Etiology of isolated pontine infarctions: A study based on high-resolution MRI and brain small vessel disease scores. BMC Neurol. 2017;17(1):216. doi:10.1186/s12883-017-0999-7 Khaku A, Tadi P. National Center For Biotechnology Information. Cerebrovascular disease (stroke). Updated November 2019. Jiang C, Yi L, Cai S, Zhang L. Ischemic stroke in pontine and corona radiata: Location specific impairment of neural network investigated with resting state fMRI. Front Neurol. 2019;10:575. doi:10.3389/fneur.2019.00575 Powers WJ, Rabinstein AA, et al. 2018 Guidelines for the early management of patients with acute ischemic stroke: A guideline for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke. 2018 Mar;49(3):e46-e110. doi:10.1161/STR.0000000000000158 Varsou O, Stringer M, Fernandes C, Schwarzbauer C, Macleod M. Stroke recovery and lesion reduction following acute isolated bilateral ischaemic pontine infarction: A case report. BMC Res Notes. 2014;7:728. doi:10.1186/1756-0500-7-728 Additional Reading Caplan LR. Lacunar infarction and small vessel disease: Pathology and pathophysiology. J Stroke. 2015;17(1):2-6. doi: 10.5853/jos.2015.17.1.2