Lateral medullary syndrome: Case report and review of literature

Lateral medullary syndrome (LMS) or Wallenberg's syndrome is an uncommon and often underdiagnosed cause of posterior circulation stroke. Thrombosis, embolization, or dissection of vertebral or posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) often results into LMS. The most pathognomonic symptoms of LMS includes pain and temperature deficits on ipsilateral facial side and contralateral side of rest of the body, ipsilateral ataxia, vertigo, nystagmus, dysphagia, hoarseness, hiccups and Horner's syndrome. We report a case of LMS in a 49-year-old Indian female with no known classical risk factors for stroke who presented with chief complaints of debilitating headache. Clinical examination was suggestive of LMS and radiological investigation confirmed the diagnosis. Patient's hospital stay was uneventful and she was discharged to home with gradual improvement in her symptoms.