Syringohydromyelia or HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis. A diagnostic challenge. Case report.
Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) is the most common chronic myelopathy in Brazil. We present the case of a 53 year old man that fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for HAM/TSP but had at the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spinal cord evidences of syringohydromyelia at the C6-C7 and D2-D7 levels along with Chiari type I malformation. The clinical picture was more typical of HAM/TSP than of syringohydromyelia, which was probably asymptomatic. The present case clearly demonstrates that serology and neuroimaging should be always used together. We conclude that, specially in places where HTLV-I is endemic, every patient with a spastic paraparesis, even with a radiological picture suggestive of a structural spinal cord lesion, should have a screening test for HTLV-I. The clinical picture must dictate the final direction of the diagnosis.
HTLV Unit, Evandro Chagas Hospital, FIOCRUZ, RJ, Brasil.
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Ade Q
Araújo
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AC
Leite
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De Oliveira
C R
CR
Afonso
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Pies
D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology; D013595:Syringomyelia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*