Abstract
A case of Dejerine's syndrome in which MRI detected a lesion localized medially in the medulla oblongata was reported. The patient was a 68-year-old male who had a past history of hypertension. He was hospitarized with an initial manifestation of weakness of the right side of his body. Neurological findings revealed right flaccid hemiplegia sparing the face, decrease in the tactile and deep sensation of the right half of the body, left paralyis of the tongue and left weakness of palate and pharynx. The left weakness of palate and pharynx improved promptly after admission, leading to the diagnosis of Dejerine's syndrome. Cerebral angiography revealed occlusion of the left vertebral artery at the level of C1. Bone artifact prevented CT scan from demonstrating abnormality in the brain tern. MRI clearly visualized infarction involving the left medulla oblongate medially and occlusion of the left vertebral artery. The affected region visualized in MRI was consistent with the neurological findings of Dejerine's syndrome, appearing to be the lesion responsible for the patient's condition. Dejerine's syndrome being very rare, the present case is the first reported case in which MRI clearly visualized small infarction of the left medulla oblongata.
