A brainstem stroke syndrome falls under the broader category of stroke syndromes, or specific symptoms caused by vascular injury to an area of brain (for example, the lacunar syndromes). As the brainstem contains numerous cranial nuclei and white matter tracts, a stroke in this area can have a number of unique symptoms depending on the particular blood vessel that was injured and the group of cranial nerves and tracts that are no longer perfused. Symptoms of a brainstem stroke frequently include sudden vertigo and ataxia, with or without weakness. Brainstem stroke can also cause diplopia, slurred speech and decreased level of consciousness. A more serious outcome is locked-in syndrome.^{[citation needed]}

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Brainstem stroke
Specialty	Neurology

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• The midbrain syndromes (Significant overlap between these three syndromes)
  • Superior alternating hemiplegia or Weber's syndrome
  • Paramedian midbrain syndrome or Benedikt's syndrome
  • Claude's syndrome
• Medial pontine syndrome or Middle alternating hemiplegia or Foville's syndrome
• Lateral pontine syndrome or Marie-Foix syndrome
• Medial medullary syndrome or Inferior alternating hemiplegia
• Lateral medullary syndrome or Wallenberg syndrome

A history of locked in syndromes.

• Alternating hemiplegia
• Posterior cerebral artery syndrome
• Middle cerebral artery syndrome
• Anterior cerebral artery syndrome