Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Syringomyelia”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 667 records · Page 37Linked to original sources

Syringomyelia associated with postmeningitic spinal arachnoiditis. Filling of the syrinx through a communication with the subarachnoid space.

A patient is described who became paraplegic because of postmeningitic spinal arachnoiditis. Twelve years later, upper limb signs appeared. Syringomyelia of an unusal communicating type was demonstrated by air myelography: Air, introduced by lumbar route, filled syrinx up to the level of the first cervical vertebra, through a communication with the subarachnoid space at the thoracic level.

Adult↗

Dystonia of the legs induced by walking or passive movement of the big toe in a patient with cerebellar ectopia and syringomyelia.

A 45-year-old man with dystonia of the legs was found to have cerebellar ectopia and syringomyelia. Both walking and passive movements of the big toes evoked dystonic postures of the legs. Electrophysiologic studies suggested that the dystonic movements were reflex in origin. We propose that the cervical spinal cord lesion, involving propriospinal pathways, resulted in an abnormal response of spinal interneurons to peripheral stimuli.

Cerebellar Diseases↗

CT metrizamide myelography in syringomyelia: sensitivity and specificity.

In a retrospective study of 32 patients with "proven" syringomyelia and 15 patients with an alternate proven diagnosis, a change in the caliber of the spinal cord with different positions ("collapsing cord sign or cord collapse") had a sensitivity of 38% and a specificity of 87%. Central cord enhancement ("bull's-eye") on delayed CT had a sensitivity and specificity of 91% and 87%, respectively. The positive predictive value of cord collapse was 87%, while the positive predictive value of central cord enhancement was 94%.

Humans↗

A study of experimental syringomyelia by scanning electron microscopy.

Experimental hydromyelia and syringomyelia, induced by kaolin in dogs, has been investigated by scanning electron microscopy. This study demonstrated that communication between the 4th ventricle and the spinal central canal is normally occluded by a plug of acellular material lying within the central canal. This plug is broken down following the onset of hydrocephalus and communication is rapidly established between the ventricles and the central canal. The canal distends and ruptures dorsally into the spinal gray matter with the development of extensive intramedullary cavities, lined by glial and neuronal elements. The morphological changes demonstrated are consistent with a physical destructive process of the cord resulting from CSF dissection.

Animals↗

Percutaneous minidose metrizamide endomyelographic computed tomography in syringomyelia.

Two patients presented with syringomyelia, each unusual. After neuroradiographic diagnosis with delayed metrizamide computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), an interesting diagnostic question arose. A percutaneous minidose metrizamide endomyelographic CT (PMDMECT) study clarified each situation and directly affected the neurosurgical approaches. The features of each case, the technique of PMDMECT, and postoperative follow-up data are reported.

Administration, Cutaneous↗

Resolution of syringomyelia and Chiari I malformation by ventriculoatrial shunting in a patient with pseudotumor cerebri and a lumboperitoneal shunt.

A sneeze caused acute left arm pain in a 36-year-old woman with a lumboperitoneal (LP) shunt that had been placed 3 years earlier for relief of headaches caused by pseudotumor cerebri. Numbness progressed up the left arm, neck, and back of the head and finally into the left face along with weakness of the hand and arm. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography revealed new tonsillar herniation and a large eccentric syrinx extending from C2 to T6. The functioning LP shunt was clamped, and a ventriculoatrial shunt was placed. Pain lessened and motor function improved slightly. MRI revealed complete resolution of the syrinx and resolution of the tonsillar herniation. Theories of syringomyelia formation, the relationship to Chiari I malformation, and the implications of this case are discussed.

Adult↗

Septation in syringomyelia and its possible clinical significance.

A 3-year-old boy with a septated syrinx and several other dysraphic features is presented. The literature regarding the cause, diagnosis, and pathology of septation in syringomyelia is reviewed. This case raises two points. First, the septated pattern may be associated with an elevated pressure in the syrinx. Second, despite the septations, the syrinx may communicate freely.

Child, Preschool↗

Somatosensory and spinal evoked potentials in patients with cervical syringomyelia.

We recorded somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) from the skin surface and spinal evoked potentials (SpEP) from the posterior epidural space after median nerve stimulation in 11 patients with cervical syringomyelia. We compared SEPs with SpEP to assess the possible feasibility of using these techniques to localize the offending lesion. SEP abnormalities were present on one or both sides of 7 patients (9 of 22 upper limbs; 41%). The abnormal SEP pattern was the attenuation or loss of N13, which was of little value for delineating the lesion. In patients with abnormal SEPs, three types of abnormal SpEPs were noted. In the Type A abnormality (three limbs), potentials were attenuated in all cervical segments, suggesting that the syrinx itself had enlarged to involve the posterior column. In Type B (two limbs), there was reduced amplitude or absent upper cervical potentials, probably a result of the accompanying tonsilar herniation. Finally, the Type C (four limbs) abnormality was a mixture of Type A and B abnormalities in that the attenuated cervical potentials were again affected in the most upper cervical segment. We concluded that SpEP revealed various kinds of involvement of the dorsal column pathway in the syringomyelic patients, a finding not expressed with conventional SEPs.

Adult↗

Surgical results of 100 intramedullary tumors in relation to accompanying syringomyelia.

During the period from 1977 to August 1992, 100 intramedullary tumors in 94 patients were operated on in the Department of Neurosurgery at the Nordstadt Hospital in Hannover, Germany. Of these, 45% presented with associated syringes. A syrinx was more likely to be found above (49%) than below (11%) the tumor level. In 40%, a syrinx could be identified above and below the tumor level. Ependymomas and hemangioblastomas were the most common tumor types to be associated with syringes. Astrocytomas tended to demonstrate syringes less often. Regardless of histology, the higher the spinal level, the more likely a syrinx was encountered. In general, the presence of an associated syrinx favored the resectability of the tumor, because it indicated a displacing rather than an infiltrating tumor. Patients with syringomyelia tended to recover from surgery sooner. However, surgical results and long-term prognosis were not influenced significantly by an associated syrinx. The most important factor determining long-term outcome was the preoperative level of neurological function. We propose that factors independent of the tumor, disturbances of cerebrospinal fluid and extracellular fluid flow in particular, have major roles in the pathogenesis of syrinx formation associated with intramedullary tumors.

Adolescent↗

Experimental syringomyelia in the rabbit: an ultrastructural study of the spinal cord tissue.

Hydrosyringomyelia was produced experimentally by the injection of kaolin into the cisterna magna of the rabbit, and the ultrastructural changes of the spinal cord surrounding the syrinx were investigated 2, 4, and 6 weeks after injection by transmission electron microscopy. The ependyma at the ventral part of the central canal was flat and stretched, whereas, in the dorsal part, it was split, and the syrinx extended through the dorsal median plane in most animals. Extracellular edema was found in the subependymal white matter and in and around the posterior median septum. Many nerve fibers surrounding the syrinx were in varying stages of axonal degeneration. Myelin sheaths were split, thinned, and completely lost in many nerve fibers. In some fibers, the axons were totally lost, leaving the myelin sheaths as empty tubes. Astrocytic processes containing a large number of glial filaments covered the nerve fibers adjacent to the syrinx and partially replaced the edematous area. The perivascular spaces were enlarged, especially near the syrinx and in the dorsal white matter. Oligodendrocytes remained undamaged, and the remyelination by oligodendrocytic processes was seen on some denuded axons. Sometimes, this further remyelination was abortive, especially where the edema was severe. The ultrastructural changes of the neural tissue and their sequences were identical, in most respects, to those of hydrocephalus and noncommunicating syringomyelia. The oligodendrocytic remyelination with ongoing demyelination found in this model has many similarities to those in experimental hydrocephalus.

Animals↗

Complete spinal cord transection treated by implantation of a reinforced synthetic hydrogel channel results in syringomyelia and caudal migration of the rostral stump.

OBJECTIVE: Previously, we reported that synthetic poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-methyl methacrylate) (PHEMA-MMA) channels promoted regeneration of a small number of axons from brainstem motor nuclei yet provided limited functional recovery after complete spinal cord transection at T8 in rats. However, we found that these modulus channels partially collapsed over time. Therefore, we synthesized coil-reinforced PHEMA or PHEMA-MMA channels with greater elastic moduli and introduced a new spinal fixation technique to prevent collapse. We also assessed axonal regeneration within the new channels containing a cocktail of autologous peripheral nerve grafts, fibrin matrix, and acidic fibroblast growth factor. METHODS: After spinal cord transection, rats were divided into six groups: Groups 1 and 2 had either a PHEMA or PHEMA-MMA reinforced channel implanted between the stumps of the transected spinal cord with the cocktail; Groups 3 and 4 had either an unfilled reinforced PHEMA or PHEMA-MMA channel similarly implanted; Group 5 had an spinal cord transection without channel implanted, and Group 6 underwent the identical procedure to Group 1, but rats were sacrificed by 8 weeks for early histological assessment. Groups 1 to 5 were sacrificed at 18 weeks. RESULTS: There was no channel collapse at any time. However, there was no improvement in axonal regeneration or functional recovery among Groups 1 to 4 because of the unexpected development of syringomyelia and caudal migration of the rostral stump. Functional recovery was better in Groups 1 to 4 compared with Group 5 (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The use of channels to enhance regeneration of axons is promising; however, improvement of the design of the channels is required.

Animals↗

A case of syringomyelia associated with cervical spondylosis.

Cervical spondylosis is an extremely common condition causing spinal cord compression, and yet it very rarely causes secondary syrinx formation. We report a case of cervical spondylosis with associated syringomyelia and review the possible pathogenesis of this condition.

Aged↗

Hydrocephalus and syringomyelia in a cat.

A 3-month-old male Japanese cat with feline parvovirus infection, showing central and cervical nerve abnormalities, was diagnosed as hydrocephalus and syringomyelia by use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The cat was maintained clinically by medical treatment even though he could not stand. The MRI scans obtained about 5 months later showed that the ventricles had increased in size and the cervical syrinx had extended into the thoracic spinal cord. Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt was performed. One week after surgery, neurological conditions had improved. At the postoperative MR images, the ventricles had decreased in size and the syrinx in the cervical and thoracic spinal cord could no longer be seen. The cat was still alive and was able to walk well.

Animals↗