Syringomyelia: an expanding problem.
Syringomyelia, a central cavitation of the spinal cord, was once thought to be a rare disorder. Associated with congenital malformations as well as trauma and tumors, a syringomyelia can cause a variety of sensory complaints, including parasthesias, changes in temperature recognition, and pain. Other symptoms may range from gastrointestinal problems to shoulder arthropathy. Left unchecked, a syringomyelia can expand and lead to permanent disability. The nurse practitioner should be suspicious of the presence of a syrinx in patients who have otherwise unexplained sensory deficits that follow cervical or thoracic dermatomes.
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Marymount University School of Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner Program, USA.
D000328:Adult; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D011379:Prognosis; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology*; D013595:Syringomyelia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery