Lateral medullary syndrome

Background

Lateral medullary syndrome (aka Wallenberg syndrome, PICA syndrome) -occlusion of posterior inferior cerebellar artery -can represent an occlusion of the vertebral artery at the origin of the PICA

Clinical Features

-Contralateral loss of pain and temperature sensation to body -Ipsilateral loss of pain and temperature sensation to face -Dysphagia, soft palate paralysis, hoarseness, diminished gag reflex -Ipsilateral Horner syndrome -Nausea, diplopia, patient that is falling to the ipsilateral side, nystatmus, vertigo -Ataxia to the ipsilateral side

References

Haines, D. E. (2011). Neuroanatomy: An atlas of structures, sections, and systems. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.