title: Multiple sclerosis and non-communicating syringomyelia: a casual association or linked diseases?
abstract: Non-communicating syringomyelia (NCS) can be associated with different disease processes such as arachnoidytis, trauma or tumor. Approximately 12 cases, documented radiographically, of the association of non-communicating syringomyelia and multiple sclerosis (MS) have been described but their relationship remains obscure. In 3 patients with laboratory supported MS spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a central cystic cavity. In 2 patients lesions on the spinal cord above the cavity were demonstrated. At 3-year follow-up in 1 patient, no change in the cavity was detected. Although 3 cases are insufficient for providing a definitive conclusion on the relationship between these two diseases, we suggest that demyelinating lesions have to be regarded as possible causes of spinal, asymptomatic cavities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Sciences and Rehabilitation, University of Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Solaro
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uccelli
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gentile
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lentino
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Mancardi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Primavera
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology; D013595:Syringomyelia / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology