What is a key feature of Dejerine-Roussy syndrome?

Dejerine-Roussy syndrome, also known as thalamic pain syndrome, is characterized by specific neurological deficits that arise primarily due to lesions involving the ventral posterolateral (VPL) nucleus of the thalamus. This condition usually occurs following a vascular insult to the thalamus, such as a stroke, leading to a distinctive pain syndrome.

The key feature of this syndrome involves the presence of dysesthesia—abnormal sensations such as pain, tingling, or burning—resulting from the involvement of the VPL nucleus, which is responsible for processing sensory information, particularly from the contralateral side of the body. Patients may experience heightened pain responses that can become debilitating, often described as a paradoxical pain that is disproportionate to any physical causes.

While contralateral hemiplegia may occur in thalamic strokes, it is more directly associated with lesions in the lateral corticospinal tract rather than the specific manifestations of Dejerine-Roussy syndrome. Bradykinesia and rigidity are key features of Parkinsonian syndromes and are not characteristic of thalamic lesions. Bladder dysfunction and ataxia may occur due to other neurological conditions but do not define Dejerine-Roussy syndrome