title: [Syringomyelias in paediatrics: a retrospective study of 25 cases].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Syringomyelia is defined as a cavity containing cerebrospinal fluid inside the spinal cord.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the clinical characteristics of a series of patients with syringomyelia, as well as its diagnosis and treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective descriptive study by reviewing the medical records at our centre.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We reviewed 25 patients diagnosed with syringomyelia. In five cases, the diagnosis was reached casually, and eight of them presented a previous severe pathology (tumour, bone or vascular). Two patients began with hydrocephalus and clinical signs and symptoms of intracranial hypertension and just two of them reported headaches as the only symptom. Four presented progressive scoliosis, two of them as the initial complaint, and required surgery with arthrodesis and the use of a corset, respectively. A notable feature was the earliness of the diagnosis. Most of them only presented a slight loss of strength, with normal somatosensory potentials and electromyogram. Check-ups were carried out with magnetic resonance. Eight patients required a decompressive craniectomy with posterior C1-C2 laminectomy, with drainage of the syringomyelic cavity in four cases. Nine of them required a bypass valve and a ventriculostomy also had to be performed in two of them.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of syringomyelia is rare in paediatric patients, and is generally associated with malformations in the posterior fossa and a medical history of spinal dysrhaphism. Progressive scoliosis stands out as a possible isolated manifestation. A multidisciplinary approach with regular radiological check-ups and evaluation by paediatric neurology and neurosurgery services are mandatory for its follow-up.
authors: Hospital Infantil Universitario Nino Jesus, 28009 Madrid, Espana.
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Martinez-Albaladejo
authors: Hospital Infantil Universitario Nino Jesus, 28009 Madrid, Espana.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Prochazkova
authors: Hospital Infantil Universitario Nino Jesus, 28009 Madrid, Espana.
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Perez-Sebastian
authors: Hospital Infantil Universitario Nino Jesus, 28009 Madrid, Espana.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Bernardino-Cuesta
authors: Hospital General Universitario Santa Lucia, Cartagena, Espana.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Martinez-Ferrandez
authors: Hospital Infantil Universitario Nino Jesus, 28009 Madrid, Espana.
authors: O M
authors: OM
authors: Suarez-Traba
authors: Hospital Infantil Universitario Nino Jesus, 28009 Madrid, Espana.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Budke
authors: Hospital Infantil Universitario Nino Jesus, 28009 Madrid, Espana.
authors: J J
authors: JJ
authors: Garcia-Penas
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D006261:Headache; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000209:etiology; D007796:Laminectomy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013595:Syringomyelia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*