Lateral medullary syndrome: An unusual central cause for unilateral vocal cord palsy

Lateral medullary syndrome, also known also as Wallenberg syndrome, remains an interesting clinical entity with varied presentations of cerebrovascular accidents. The area of the brain stem involved is the posterolateral part of the medulla oblongata receiving arterial blood supply from the posterior inferior cerebellar artery. We present a 60-year-old man presenting with unilateral vocal cord palsy due to an unusual central cause, being part of lateral medullary syndrome. We reviewed the neuroanatomy and clinical aspects of this condition. Key words: Lateral medullary syndrome, Wallenberg syndrome, PICA syndrome, Vocal cord palsy.