Myelopathy after intrathecal chemotherapy. A case report with unique magnetic resonance imaging changes.
BACKGROUND
Paraplegia caused by intrathecal chemotherapy has no known pathognomonic features and is a diagnosis of exclusion.


METHODS
The authors reported the clinical and neuroimaging findings in one patient with this syndrome.


RESULTS
The patient had severe paraplegia with urinary retention and impaired pain and touch sensation below T-10 with sparing of proprioception and vibration sense. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan showed diminished intensity throughout the central cervical spinal cord. Post-gadopentetate dimeglumine enhancement was scattered throughout the cervical spinal cord and in two areas of the dorsal spinal cord. Axial views of the cervical spinal cord showed that this enhancement was limited to the lateral columns.


CONCLUSIONS
The MRI in myelopathy due to intrathecal chemotherapy may show a unique pattern of postgadopentetate dimeglumine enhancement limited to the lateral columns of the spinal cord. However, two recently encountered patients with the same syndrome did not show similar changes.
McLean
D R
DR
Department of Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Clink
H M
HM
Ernst
P
P
Coates
R
R
al Kawi
M Z
MZ
Bohlega
S
S
Omer
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003287:Contrast Media; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D007278:Injections, Spinal / Q000009:adverse effects; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008536:Meglumine; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis; D004369:Pentetic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003287:Contrast Media; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D003561:Cytarabine; D008536:Meglumine; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D008727:Methotrexate