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
PubMed ID
8814424
Repository Citation
Anwer, Ursula E. and Fisher, Marc, "Acute and atypical presentations of syringomyelia" (1996). Neurology Publications and Presentations. 84.
https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/neuro_pp/84