Allodynia in the flank after thalamic stroke

Lesions responsible for thalamic pain are often thought to involve the ventral posteromedial nucleus and ventral posterolateral nucleus of the thalamus. We describe two patients with allodynia and hyperpathia in the contralateral flank caused by a small lesion in the posteroventral part of the thalamus. When considered with the literature, involvement of the ventral posteroinferior nucleus may be responsible for this unique post-stroke pain syndrome.