What does lacunar cerebral infarction mean?

Lacunar infarction generally refers to a clinical type of cerebral infarction caused by small ischemic microinfarcts, primarily due to occlusion of deep penetrating arteries in the brain. The specific details are as follows:

Lacunar infarction occurs when the small penetrating arteries deep within the brain develop vascular wall lesions on the basis of long-term hypertension, leading to vessel occlusion and the formation of small ischemic microinfarcts. These infarcts most commonly occur in deep brain regions such as the basal ganglia, thalamus, and pons, and rarely affect the cerebral cortex or white matter. Patients may experience symptoms such as headache, dizziness, memory decline, and a heavy sensation in the limbs. The condition is usually mild with a generally favorable prognosis, but it tends to recur.

Patients are advised to seek timely medical attention when experiencing any discomfort and to undergo standardized treatment under the guidance of a physician, which can help promote recovery.