|
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):
Sagittal MRI
scans of the cervical and upper thoracic spine; (Left) T1-weighted; (Right) T2 weighted. Note the
large central cystic cavity expanding the spinal cord extending from C6 - T3.
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