Atypical syringomyelia without cavity in a patient with Chiari malformation and hydrocephalus.
METHODS
A case report is presented.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate atypical syringomyelia without cavity.


BACKGROUND
Syringomyelia without frank cavity is rarely reported. The MR imaging appearance of this atypical syringomyelia may help to understand the mechanism leading to the development of syringomyelia.


METHODS
Data are given for one patient who underwent MR imaging; she had Chiari malformation and hydrocephalus.


RESULTS
The patient had enlarged spinal cords, and gray matter T2 prolongation without cavitation occurred in association with continued cerebrospinal fluid obstruction in upper spine and improved after surgical intervention 14 days later.


CONCLUSIONS
Obstruction of the cerebrospinal fluid pathways in the upper spine may result in spinal cord gray matter T2 prolongation that is reversible after restoration of patency of cerebrospinal fluid pathways and stress the importance of timely intervention to limit progression to syringomyelia.
Wang
Rong
R
Department of Spine Surgery, Drum Tower Hospital, College of Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China. wangr@public1.ptt.js.cn
Qiu
Yong
Y
Jiang
Jian
J
Liu
Zhijian
Z
D000328:Adult; D001139:Arnold-Chiari Malformation / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015170:Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D018450:Disease Progression; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000601:surgery; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D020546:Fourth Ventricle / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007796:Laminectomy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013595:Syringomyelia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome