[citation needed] Common symptoms of lateral medullary syndrome may include difficulty swallowing, or dysphagia.

[citation needed] Palatal myoclonus, the twitching of the muscles of the mouth, may be observed due to disruption of the central tegmental tract.

Lateral medullary syndrome can also cause bradycardia, a slow heart rate, and increases or decreases in the patient's average blood pressure.

Head Impulsive Nystagmus Test of Skew (HINTS) examination of oculomotor function is often performed, along with computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assist in stroke detection.

Long-term treatment generally involves the use of antiplatelets like aspirin or clopidogrel and statin regimen for the rest of their lives in order to minimize the risk of another stroke.

[3] The outlook for someone with lateral medullary syndrome depends upon the size and location of the area of the brain stem damaged by the stroke.

[4] However, more than 85% of patients have seen minimal symptoms present at six months from the time of the original stroke, and have been able to independently accomplish average daily activities within a year.

[3] Large artery atherosclerosis is thought to be the greatest risk factor for lateral medullary syndrome due to the deposits of cholesterol, fatty substances, cellular waste products, calcium and fibrin.

[6] The earliest description of lateral medullary syndrome was first written by Gaspard Vieusseux at the Medical and Chirurgical Society of London describing the symptoms observed at the time.

[7] Adolf Wallenberg was a renowned neurologist and neuroanatomist most widely known for his clinical descriptions of Lateral Medullary Syndrome.

In 1929, Wallenberg received the Erb Commemorative Medal for his work in the field of anatomy, physiology and pathology of the nervous system.

[8] Wallenberg's first patient in 1885 was a 38-year-old male with symptoms of vertigo, numbness, loss of pain and temperature sensitivity, paralysis of multiple locations, ataxia and more.

His background in neuroanatomy helped him in correctly locating the patient's lesion to the lateral medulla and connected it to a blockage of the ipsilateral posterior inferior cerebral artery.