An uncommon case of stroke – Wallenberg syndrome

Abstract

Wallenberg syndrome is also known as lateral medullary syndrome though a unusual cause of stroke, more common posterior circulation stroke. We report a 75 year old female diabetic and hypertensive who presented with giddiness and dysphagia. On examination she had numbness over the left half of face, loss of temperature sensation over the right side of the body with absent gag reflex with deviation of uvula to right. Initial work up of computed tomography of brain was normal, on detailed evaluation by MRI brain with MR angiogram showed an infarct in the left side of the medulla suggestive of Wallenberg’s syndrome. This case is to highlight the importance of detailed neurological examination and detailed evaluation by MRI, when posterior circulatory stroke is suspected.