[A case report of hemiparesis due to compression of the medulla oblongata by an elongated vertebral artery]

Abstract

The authors report a case of a 53-year-old woman who developed symptoms and signs of compression of the left medulla oblongata by the elongated and curved left vertebral artery with normal diameter. Twelve days before admission to the hospital, the patient suddenly noticed severe occipital-nuchal headache and nausea with vomiting, while she was unloading a burden. Neurological examination revealed left facial hyperalgesia, right hemihypesthesia and mild right hemiparesis. Hoarseness was observed, but the movement of the uvula and tongue was normal. Hypertension was noticed (180/100). Cerebral and vertebral angiography revealed no aneurysm, but demonstrated an elongated and curved V4 portion of the left vertebral artery with normal diameter. Coronal plain of T2 weighted image of MRI and CT scan with metrizamide administered into the CSF, clearly demonstrated an elongated and curved left vertebral artery compressing the ventro-lateral portion of the left medulla oblongata, neurovascular decompression of the V4 from the medulla oblongata was performed. Through the operating microscope, it was observed that the elongated and curved V4 portion of the left vertebral artery with normal configuration was compressing the left medulla oblongata ventro-laterally, making a compression notch at the outlets of the cranial nerves IX and X. Transposition of the V4 portion was impossible. Some pieces of Taflon felt, thick enough to prevent the pulsatile movement of the V4 from compressing the medulla oblongata, were inserted between the V4 and the medulla oblongata. Two months after the operation, the patient's right hemiparesis and sensory disturbances were gradually improving and her blood pressure had become normal. The authors emphasize that, among patients with symptoms and signs of compression of the medulla oblongata, there is at least one patient for whom neurovascular decompression was an effective treatment.