The resolution of syringohydromyelia without hindbrain herniation after posterior fossa decompression.
OBJECTIVE
To provide more information about this rare condition, the authors describe five cases of syringohydromyelia without hindbrain herniation. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging with and without gadolinium-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid revealed no evidence of spinal cord tumor, arachnoiditis, or spinal dysraphism.


METHODS
Craniocervical decompression was performed in all patients, after which there was resolution of the symptoms in the four symptomatic patients, and all five showed marked reduction in the size of the syrinx.


CONCLUSIONS
The authors hypothesize the rare occurrence of syringohydromyelia resulting from a Chiari-like pathophysiological condition but lacking a hindbrain hernia. Patients with this condition may benefit from craniocervical decompression.
Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Pediatric Imaging, Children'sHospital,Birmingham,Alabama, USA. iskandar@neuro-novell.neurosurg.wisc.edu
B J
BJ
Iskandar
G L
GL
Hedlund
P A
PA
Grabb
W J
WJ
Oakes
D000293:Adolescent; D001100:Arachnoiditis / Q000175:diagnosis; D001139:Arnold-Chiari Malformation / Q000150:complications; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003287:Contrast Media; D003388:Cranial Fossa, Posterior / Q000601:surgery; D003399:Craniotomy; D004677:Encephalocele / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D019028:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012249:Rhombencephalon / Q000473:pathology*; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D016135:Spinal Dysraphism / Q000175:diagnosis; D013595:Syringomyelia / Q000601:surgery*
D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA