Signs
and symptoms often characteristic of brainstem TIAs include:
- Unilateral or bilateral**
weakness, clumsiness or paralysis
- Limb ataxia or coarse
tremor, staggering or veering when attempting to walk (cerebellar signs)
- Vertigo or dizziness (an important
symptom when present together with other brainstem findings)
- Unilateral or bilateral**
numbness or paresthesias (burning, tingling, etc.) or loss of sensation
- Dysarthria
- Visual field loss or
blindness or diplopia
- Nystagmus (the patient may describe
nystagmus as "things jumping around when I try to look at them.")
** Since the basilar artery
supplies both sides of the brainstem, its occlusion can affect motor or sensory
long tracts bilaterally.
