Title

Acute and atypical presentations of syringomyelia

UMMS Affiliation

Department of Neurology

Publication Date

1996-01-01

Document Type

Article

Subjects

Adult; Arnold-Chiari Malformation; Brain; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Spinal Cord; Syringomyelia

Disciplines

Nervous System Diseases | Neurology

Abstract

Syringomyelia is characterized by a longitudinal cavity or several cavities in the spinal cord, and syringobulbia demonstrates similar pathology in the brainstem. Both conditions typically present with slowly progressing dissociative sensory deficits as well as upper and lower motor neuron deficits. We recently encountered 3 patients who presented with the rapid onset of such signs and symptoms and had cervical syringes. All 3 patients would have been diagnostic dilemmas had it not been for MRI, which identified a syrinx in each patient, as well as an Arnold-Chiari malformation in 2 of the 3. Syringomyelia and syringobulbia should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients who have acutely evolving brainstem or cervical spinal cord deficits. MRI is the imaging modality of choice for detecting syringomyelia or syringobulbia presenting atypically.

Source

Eur Neurol. 1996;36(4):215-8.

Journal/Book/Conference Title

European neurology

Related Resources

Link to article in PubMed

PubMed ID

8814424

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS