title: Intractable hiccup as the presenting symptom of cavernous hemangioma in the medulla oblongata: a case report and literature review.
abstract: A case of intractable hiccup developed by cavernous hemangioma in the medulla oblongata is reported. There have been only five previously reported cases of medullary cavernoma that triggered intractable hiccup. The patient was a 28-year-old man who was presented with intractable hiccup for 15 days. It developed suddenly, then aggravated progressively and did not respond to any types of medication. On magnetic resonance images, a well-demarcated and non-enhancing mass with hemorrhagic changes was noted in the left medulla oblongata. Intraoperative findings showed that the lesion was fully embedded within the brain stem and pathology confirmed the diagnosis of cavernous hemangioma. The hiccup resolved completely after the operation. Based on the presumption that the medullary cavernoma may trigger intractable hiccup by displacing or compression the hiccup arc of the dorsolateral medulla, surgical excision can eliminate the symptoms, even in the case totally buried in brainstem.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Chonnam National University Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital & Medical School, Hwasun, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung-Hwa
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Chonnam National University Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital & Medical School, Hwasun, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung-Sub
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Chonnam National University Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital & Medical School, Hwasun, Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Young
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Chonnam National University Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital & Medical School, Hwasun, Korea.
authors.forename: Shin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jung
keywords: Brainstem; Cavernous hemangioma; Hiccup; Medulla oblongata; Surgery