Lateral Medullary Syndromes, also known as Wallenberg syndrome or posterior inferior cerebellar artery syndrome, refers to a neurological condition caused by a stroke or blockage in the vertebral or posterior inferior cerebellar arteries, resulting in damage or injury to the lateral portion of the medulla oblongata, a part of the brainstem.
This condition manifests with a variety of symptoms due to the compromised blood supply to vital structures in the brainstem. Common signs include loss of pain and temperature sensation on the same side of the face and opposite side of the body, often accompanied by impaired coordination and balance (ataxia). Other notable symptoms include difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), hoarseness or changes in voice (dysarthria), nystagmus (involuntary eye movements), vertigo, and sometimes impaired vision or blindness. It can also cause a drooping eyelid (ptosis), a small pupil (miosis), and decreased perspiration on the affected side of the face.
The lateral medullary syndrome can have a significant impact on a person’s quality of life due to the functional impairments it causes. Diagnosis is typically made through a combination of clinical evaluation, patient history, and neuroimaging studies like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scans.
Treatment for lateral medullary syndromes focuses on addressing the underlying cause, managing symptoms, and facilitating recovery. This may involve medications to control pain and other symptoms, rehabilitation therapies to improve balance and coordination, speech therapy for speech and swallowing difficulties, and devices or techniques to aid with impairments such as assistive devices for mobility.
