|
A 34 year-old woman presented with loss of sensation in the hands, upper extremities, chest and upper back, in a cape-like distribution. |
| Syringomyelia (Syrinx):
Axial
MRI scans of the lower cervical spine at the C7 level. (Left)
T1-weighted; (Right) T2 weighted. Note the large cystic cavity in the center of the spinal cord.
A syrinx often
first presents with bilateral upper extremity loss of pain and temperature
sensation from early involvement of the crossing spinothalamic fibers.
Syringomyelia is often associated with congenital malformations, intrinsic cord
tumors, or may follow spinal trauma. In this case, the expansion of the cord
might suggest an underlying neoplasm. |
Revised
11/25/06
Copyrighted 2006. David C Preston