ASTROCYTOMA-INDUCED PSEUDOVASCULAR LATERA L MEDULLARY SYNDROME

A patient presented,with an atypical left lateral medullary syndrome ( LMS) mimicking a stroke. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a tum our in the left dorsolateral part of the medulla. Biopsy repealed a gr ade II astrocytoma. The patient died two weeks after surgery. Nine pat hologically verified previous cases of LMS caused by a tumour are revi ewed. LMS is invariably atypical because of associated supratentorial or extensive brainstem symptomatology. Onset is usually progressive bu t stroke-like onset has been occasionally reported. Glial tumours as a cause of LMS are less frequent than metastasis. Successfull treatment has been reported in a case of low grade astrocytoma.