Toxic and Metabolic Myelopathies.
Myelopathy describes any neurologic deficit related to the spinal cord. It is most commonly caused by its compression by neoplasms, degenerative disc disease, trauma, or infection. Less common causes of myelopathy include spinal cord tumors, infection, inflammatory, neurodegenerative, vascular, toxic, and metabolic disorders. Conditions affecting the spinal cord must be recognized as early as possible to prevent progression that may lead to permanent disability. Biopsy is rarely performed, thus the diagnosis and management rely on patient׳s history, physical examination, laboratory results, and imaging findings. Here we review the clinical presentations, pathophysiological mechanisms, and magnetic resonance imaging findings of myelopathies related to metabolic or toxic etiologies.
Radiology Department, University of North Carolina Hospital, Chapel Hill, NC; Neuroradiology Department, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Central, Lisboa, Portugal. Electronic address: joana-ramalho@netcabo.pt.
Joana
J
Ramalho
Radiology Department, University of North Carolina Hospital, Chapel Hill, NC; Neuroradiology Division, Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Renato Hoffmann
RH
Nunes
Neuroradiology Division, Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Antonio José
AJ
da Rocha
Radiology Department, University of North Carolina Hospital, Chapel Hill, NC.
Mauricio
M
Castillo
D003677:Deficiency Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D059906:Neuroimaging / Q000379:methods*; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*