Question

20. The MRI of a 69-year-old woman reveals a tumor in the posterior fossa resulting in significant compression of the medulla. Which of the following deficits could appear suddenly in this patient and would signal potential medullary failure?

a. Agnosia

b. Paralysis of the lower extremities

c. Complete loss of pain and thermal sense from the body

d. Central apnea

e.Blindness

Answer 1

d, Central apnea
Neurological disease or tumor in the posterior fossa like tumor infiltration of the medulla oblongata and pons due to reticular formation and the ambiguous and solitary nuclei results in damage to respiratory neurons and afferent pathways. there will be transient impairment in the respiration central function due to the upward mobilization of the tumor.