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 Biopsy repealed a gr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.