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Lateral medullary syndrome

Case contributed by Pir Abdul Ahad Aziz Qureshi
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Sudden onset headache, ataxia, vertigo and difficulty in swallowing.

Patient Data

Age: 30 years
Gender: Male
ct

Hypodensity is seen in the left lateral medulla oblongata suggestive of acute ischemic infarction.

mri

Small area of restricted diffusion in the left lateral medulla showing T2 and FLAIR hyperintense signals representing acute ischemic infarction. 

Case Discussion

Lateral medullary syndrome, also called Wallenberg syndrome, is caused by an acute ischemic infarction of the lateral medulla oblongata most commonly due to the occlusion of the vertebral artery (intracranial part) followed by posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) and its branches.

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