title: Association of HTLV-I with Arnold Chiari syndrome and syringomyelia.
abstract: HTLV-I is associated with a broad spectrum of manifestations, including tropical spastic paraparesis and adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma. Arnold Chiari syndrome is a condition characterized by herniation of the cerebellar tonsils through the foramen magnum. This condition should be suspected in all patients with headache and impaired motor coordination. Syringomyelia is a developmental anomaly that leads to the formation of an intramedullary cavity. Its clinical presentation is classically characterized by syringomyelic dissociation of sensation, with suspended distribution in the proximal portion of the trunk and upper limbs and preservation in other regions. We report here a case of association of the three diseases, which is rare in clinical practice, illustrating the difficulty in the diagnosis and therapeutic management of these conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA), UNICEUMA, São Luís, MA, Brazil. gracaviana@globo.com
authors.forename: Graça Maria de Castro
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Viana
authors.forename: João Arnaud
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Diniz Neto
authors.forename: Igor de Sousa
authors.initials: Ide S
authors.lastname: Furtado
authors.forename: José Roberto
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Binda Júnior
authors.forename: Bárbara Neiva
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Maria do Desterro Soares Brandão
authors.initials: Mdo D
authors.lastname: Nascimento
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001139:Arnold-Chiari Malformation / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D013595:Syringomyelia / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis