Cervical medullary syndrome

Cervical Medullary Syndrome (also called cervicomedullary syndrome) is a proposed syndrome caused by brainstem compression, deformation, infection or inflammation. It results in symptoms including dysautonomia, Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, pain, numbness, apnea, altered vision, hearing, speech, swallowing and balance, vertigo, dizziness, altered sleep architecture, weakness, numbness and sensory loss.

Symptoms

 * dysautonomia, Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome
 * pain, numbness, weakness and sensory loss
 * apnea
 * altered vision (blurring, floaters, spots, scintillation, auras are unusual)
 * problems with hearing, tinnitus, “As a group, [patients] appear to have a higher incidence of sinusitis/otitis and miringotomy tube placement in childhood."
 * problems with balance, vertigo, dizziness; longstanding clumsiness; disorientation in vehicles or with movement, e.g., escalators or walking down store aisles
 * altered sleep architecture


 * problems with swallowing, speech





Causes
Diagnoses that can cause Cervical Medullary Syndrome include:
 * Chiari Malformation
 * Craniocervical instability
 * Atlantoaxial instability
 * Cervical spinal stenosis