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Syringomyelia

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Alternative Names:

Syrinx

Symptoms:

• Numbness or decreased sensation
  • Neck, shoulders, upper arms, trunk in a cape-like distribution
  • Slowly, but progressively worsens
  • Lessened ability to sense that the skin is being touched
  • Decreased sense of pain or temperature
• Pain
• Weakness (decreased muscle strength, independent of exercise) in the arms or legs
• Gradual loss of muscle mass ( wasting , atrophy)
• Muscle function loss , loss of ability to use arms or legs
• Headache

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

• Rashes
• Muscle contractions
• Uncoordinated movement
• Spasticity

Signs and tests:

Neurologic examination may show loss of sensation or movement caused by compression of the spinal cord.

A spinal CT with myelogram or an MRI of the spine confirms syringomyelia and determines the exact location and extent. Often, an MRI of the head will be done to look for associated conditions including hydrocephalus (water on the brain).

• Review Date: 9/25/2006
• Reviewed By: Kenneth Gross, M.D., Neurology, North Miami, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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