Bilateral medial medullary infarction with oculomotor disorders.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We describe the first case of bilateral medial medullary infarction demonstrated by magnetic resonance imaging. We discuss the relation between this lesion and the oculomotor signs that were observed clinically.

CASE DESCRIPTION: A 71-year-old man initially presented with pure motor hemiparesis, which progressed to complete quadriplegia. He also developed nearly complete vertical and horizontal ophthalmoplegia. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed upper medial medullary infarctions bilaterally that extended to the pontomedullary junction.

CONCLUSIONS

We propose that the vertical oculomotor disorders resulted from involvement of the oculomotor system in the caudal brain stem, especially the caudal paramedian pontine reticular formations on both sides.