The Death of a Young Adult due to Wallenberg Syndrome: A Case Report

Wallenberg syndrome which is also known as lateral medullary syndrome (LMS) and posterior inferior cerebellar artery syndrome ((PICA syndrome) is detected relatively rarely among young adults. A 42-year-old apparently healthy male presented with headache, vomiting and vertigo. He was diagnosed to have severe hypertension and type-2 diabetes mellitus. During his first admission his first non-contrast computed tomography (NCCT) scan of the brain had confirmed a cerebellar infarction. With clinical findings, the patient was treated as a possible case of LMS. With the repeat NCCT on the third day, he was diagnosed to have progressive cerebellar infarction and a medullary infarction. In the following day the patient was discharged with reserved dates for vertebral artery duplex and ultrasound scan of abdomen (USS). On the seventh day of the illness he had collapsed and died. Subsequent autopsy revealed a left-sided cerebellar and a brain stem infarction along with generalized cerebral oedema. Important findings deduced by forensic pathologists should be conveyed to the clinicians in order to broaden the treatment options and to prevent premature deaths.