J Korean Geriatr Soc.  2005 Dec;9(4):322-325.

A Case of Lateral Medullary Infraction Presenting with Thoracic Sensory Level

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Neurology, Gangnung Asan Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Gangnung, Korea. jkd@gnah.co.kr
  • 2Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Gangnung Asan Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Gangnung, Korea.
  • 3Department of Neurology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
  • 4Department of Family Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

Loss of pain and temperature sensation due to lateral medullary infarction are well known and classically involve the ipsilateral side of the face and the lower part of the body on the controlateral side. This pattern of sensory loss below a certain level on the trunk, usually a sign of spinal cord disease, may also appear following a lesion in the lateral medullar, due to damage to the spinothalamic tract. A 72-year-old hypertensive man developed sudden dizziness, headache, and gait ataxia. On neurologic examination, he had left limb and gait ataxia. Five days later he noted loss of pain and temperature sensation on the right leg and trunk with a sensory level at T4 with preservation of touch, vibration, and joint position sense in all limbs. Brain MRI showed a small infarct in the left lower lateral medulla. Brain MR angiography showed stenosis of the right proximal carotid artery, left distal vertebral artery, and mid-basilar artery. We report a case of sensory defects with a sensory level on the trunk that occured as the result of lesion of the lower lateral medulla.

Keyword

Lateral medullary infarction; Spinothalamic tracts; Medulla oblongata

MeSH Terms

Aged
Angiography
Arteries
Brain
Carotid Arteries
Constriction, Pathologic
Dizziness
Extremities
Gait Ataxia
Headache
Humans
Infarction
Joints
Leg
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Medulla Oblongata
Neurologic Examination
Proprioception
Sensation
Spinal Cord Diseases
Spinothalamic Tracts
Vertebral Artery
Vibration
Full Text Links
  • JKGS
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr