Acute syringomyelia: case report

Abstract

Objective and importance: Syringomyelia is generally regarded as a chronic, slowly progressive disorder. We describe a case of acute dilation of the central canal of the spinal cord that presented with rapidly progressive segmental signs.

Clinical presentation: A 29-year-old female patient who had previously undergone surgical treatment for a Chiari I malformation, syringomyelia, and hydrocephalus presented with an 8-day history of headaches, progressive paraparesis, and urinary retention. Magnetic resonance imaging scans demonstrated panventricular hydrocephalus in association with a holocord syrinx that extended to the obex. Magnetic resonance imaging scans that had been coincidentally obtained just 3 days before the onset of symptoms had revealed no evidence of hydrocephalus or syringomyelia.

Intervention: The patient underwent emergency revision of a failed ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Postoperatively, there was prompt resolution of the syringomyelia, hydrocephalus, and associated neurological deficits.

Conclusion: Among patients with communicating syringomyelia, the central canal of the spinal cord participates as a "fifth ventricle" and can undergo rapid dilation in association with acute hydrocephalus. Appropriate treatment in such cases involves placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt.