Medial medullary syndrome, also known as Déjerine syndrome, is secondary to thrombotic or embolic occlusion of small perforating branches from vertebral or proximal basilar artery supplying the medial aspect of medulla oblongata1,2.
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Epidemiology
Represents less than 1% of brainstem stroke syndromes 1,2.
Clinical presentation
It is characterized by contralateral hemiplegia/hemiparesis as well as hemisensory loss with ipsilateral hypoglossal palsy (ipsilateral tongue weakness and atrophy) from involvement of CN XII nucleus 1,2. Other manifestations such as vertigo, nausea, or contralateral limb ataxia are also reported 1,2.
History and etymology
The syndrome was first described by Joseph Jules Déjerine (1849-1917), a French neurologist, in 1915 3.
