Bilateral ischemia of the insular cortex after high altitude climbing : a case report

High altitude exposure could be related to neurological events such as stroke-like episodes, even if the exact pathogenic mechanism is still debated. We describe the case of a caucasian woman who had a bilateral insular ischemic stroke after a rapid ascent above 4000 m in which a secondary embolic dissemination due to a right insular stroke, maybe related to high altitude hemoconcentration, could be hypothesized. In our opinion a prolonged cardiac rhythm monitoring have to be considered especially when no other embolic sources are found and for lesions involving the insular cortex.