Umamaheswara V. Reddy, Amit Agrawal, N.S. Sampath Kumar, Gauri Rani Karur and Kishor V. Hegde

ABSTRACT

Medullary cavernomas only contribute to 5% of brain stem cavernomas, various clinical presentations for medullary cavernomas have been described like intractable hiccups, dysphagia, hemiparesis, anorexia nervosa and hemihypesthesia. Exact pathomechanism for developing sensory symptoms has not been described earlier. Pressure effects due to changing dynamics in this cavernous malformation resulting in mass effect over the traversing sensory tract fibers is the possible mechanism. Differentials of cavernoma should be considered for any case presenting with hemihypesthesia. Surgery should be done only when there is appropriate indication, as surgery itself causes significant morbidity.

Keywords: cavernoma, cavernous angioma, medulla oblongata, hemihypesthesia

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