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Updated: Dec 7, 2025

Methods for Detecting Cough and Airway Inflammation in Mice
Published on: August 2, 2024
Neurogenic Cough Associated with Hyperintensity in Dorsal Medulla: Case Report and Anatomical Discussion
Menaka Pasangy Paranathala1, Patrick Mitchell1
1Department of Neurosurgery, Royal Victoria Hospital, Newcastle, UK.
Background:
The nucleus tractus solitarius and paratrigeminal nucleus, which are implicated in the processing of airway-derived sensory information, are found in the dorsal medulla. The mechanism and localization of higher-order processing of urge to cough is poorly understood, and much of the existing anatomical localization is limited to animal studies.
Case Description:
A 44-year-old Caucasian lady underwent elective foramen magnum decompression for symptomatic Chiari I malformation; postoperatively she had resolution of Chiari symptoms but developed an intractable neurogenic cough. She has no significant medical history or premorbid respiratory issues. Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging of her head demonstrated signal change in the left dorsal medulla, corresponding with the nucleus tractus solitarius and paratrigeminal nucleus.
Conclusions:
We suggest that this lesion explains her isolated new cough and localizes the pathway for "urge to cough" to this region of the medulla.
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