Medial Medullary Syndrome: Clinical Study of 9 Cases.
- Author:
Hyeon Gak KIM
1
;
Jong Sung KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Neurology, University of Ulsan, Asan Medical Center, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- MeSH:
Atrial Fibrillation;
Female;
Gout;
Humans;
Hypercholesterolemia;
Hypertension;
Hypoglossal Nerve Diseases;
Magnetic Resonance Imaging;
Male;
Paresis;
Prognosis;
Risk Factors;
Smoking;
Stroke;
Tongue;
Vertebral Artery;
Vibration
- From:Journal of the Korean Neurological Association
1995;13(3):504-509
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Medial medullary syndrome (MMS) is characterized clinically by a triad of ipsilateral hypoglossal nerve palsy, contralateral or ipsilateral hemiparesis sparing the face, and sensory disturbance of position and/or vibration. However, this syndrome is quite rare, and its clinical and radiological findings have not yet been clearly characterized. METHODS: We reviewed 9 patients with AMS who were diagnosed based on their clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings. RESULTS: There were 8 men and I woman with average age of 60 (41 to 75) years. The risk factors included hypertension in 8, DM in 6, cigarette smoking in 4, hypercholesterolemia in 4, gout in I and atrial fibrillation with LV dysfunction in 1. Their, clinical findings included contralateral hemiparesis in 9 and contralateral hermhypesthesia in & Only one patient presented with ipsilateral lingual paresis. The motor weakness was mild in 5 and moderate in 4. MRI results showed the lesions were located in the upper medulla in 7 and lower medulla in 2. Alteration of vertebral artery flow signal void in MRI was observed in 6 patients. Three patients had additional infarcts in the lateral medullary area. Prognosis of the motor weakness was good in 5 and stationary in 4. CONCLUSION: Our patients generally presented with unilateral sensorimotor stroke. Ipsilateral h6miparesis and tongue weakness, unique signs of @, were found only rarely, and the absence of these findings often made it difficult to localize the lesion by clinical judgement only.
