Neuroanatomical basis of Wallenberg syndrome

Cir Cir. 2020;88(3):376-382. doi: 10.24875/CIRU.19000801.

Abstract

Wallenberg syndrome, or lateral medullar syndrome, is the clinical presentation of the infarct in the territory of posterior inferior cerebellar artery. Its signs and symptoms include vertigo, nystagmus, diplopia, ipsilateral Horner syndrome, facial ruddiness and dry skin, dysphonia, dysphagia, dysarthria, ipsilateral loss of gag reflex, ipsilateral ataxia, ipsilateral impaired taste, ipsilateral facial pain and paresthesia, decreased ipsilateral blink reflex, contralateral hypoalgesia and thermoanaesthesia in the trunk and limbs; and ipsilateral facial hypoalgesia and thermoanaesthesia. Neuroanatomical knowledge is essential to its comprehension, study and diagnosis, because the classic neurological manifestations are easy to explain and understand if function and localization of affected anatomical structures are known as if the posterior cerebral circulation is.

El síndrome de Wallenberg, o síndrome bulbar lateral, es la manifestación clínica del infarto en el territorio de irrigación de la arteria cerebelosa posteroinferior. Su presentación incluye vértigo, nistagmo, diplopía, síndrome de Horner, rubicundez y anhidrosis facial homolateral, disfonía, disfagia, disartria, pérdida homolateral del reflejo nauseoso, ataxia homolateral, disgeusia homolateral, dolor y parestesia faciales homolaterales, pérdida o disminución homolateral del reflejo corneal, hipoalgesia y termoanestesia de tronco y extremidades contralaterales, hipoalgesia y termoanestesia facial homolateral. El conocimiento neuroanatómico es imprescindible para su comprensión, estudio y diagnóstico, ya que sus manifestaciones neurológicas clásicas son fácilmente explicables y entendibles si se conocen la función y la localización de las estructuras anatómicas afectadas, así como la irrigación cerebral posterior.

Keywords: Bulbo raquídeo; Ischemia; Isquemia; Medulla oblongata; Médula oblongada; Syndrome; Síndrome de Wallenberg; Wallenberg.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cerebellum / blood supply
  • Cerebral Infarction / complications
  • Cerebral Infarction / pathology
  • Deglutition Disorders / etiology
  • Deglutition Disorders / physiopathology
  • Dysphonia / etiology
  • Dysphonia / physiopathology
  • Facial Pain / etiology
  • Facial Pain / physiopathology
  • Horner Syndrome / etiology
  • Horner Syndrome / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Lateral Medullary Syndrome / pathology*
  • Lateral Medullary Syndrome / physiopathology
  • Medulla Oblongata / blood supply
  • Nystagmus, Pathologic / etiology
  • Nystagmus, Pathologic / physiopathology
  • Reflex, Abnormal
  • Sensation Disorders / etiology
  • Sensation Disorders / physiopathology
  • Vertigo / etiology
  • Vertigo / physiopathology