A Case of Idiopathic Medulla Oblongata and Upper Cervical Cord Atrophy

J Korean Neurol Assoc > Volume 24(5); 2006 > Article

Journal of the Korean Neurological Association 2006;24(5): 503-506.

특발성 연수 및 상부경부척수 위축 1예

박정현, 이상수

충북대학교 의과대학 신경과학교실

A Case of Idiopathic Medulla Oblongata and Upper Cervical Cord Atrophy

Jung-Hyun Park

Department of Neurology, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Korea

Abstract

Neurodegenerative diseases are featured by progressive cell loss in specific vulnerable neuronal populations of the central nervous system. Spinal cord may undergo atrophic change by degenerative disease. We present a 44-year-old man with slowly progressive left hemiparesis and burning sensation in the feet. He showed markedly increased tendon reflexes and ankle clonus. Serial cervical spine MRI showed only an atrophy of medulla oblongata and upper cervical cord. We suggest that this would be a case of neurodegenerative disease of unknown origin. KeyWords:Neurodegenerative disease, Medulla oblongata, Spinal cord