The authors present the study of four children that manifested asymmetric hemiparesis with sudden onset, without consciousness loss. The diagnosis of striatocapsular infarction was confirmed by computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The clinical and neurological examination, and laboratorial results are discussed. Familial history of migraine was found in two of the patients. Migraine was diagnosed in two, mild head trauma, viral miocarditis and mitral valve prolapse in one. Left hemiparesis, with brachiofacial features in three, and brachial in one. CT showed lenticular nucleus and internal capsule lesions in all of them, head of caudate nucleus in three, and white substance in two. MRI was done in two and confirmed CT findings. Electroencephalogram, at the acute phase in three, showed abnormalities in all patients.
striatocapsular infarction; cerebral ischemia; acute hemiplegia; childhood