Case Of the Week (COW) 18 May 2014
Answer:
Idiopathic Spinal cord Herniation.
Findings:
Focal anterior displacement of the thoracic spinal cord is noted at D2-D3 level with acute anterior kink (RESEMBLING GREEK LETTER ALPHA) There is also Widened posterior subarachnoid space .
Discussion:
The causes of Idiopathic Spinal cord herniation is due to Dural tear through which a portion of the cord protrudes. Cerebrospinal fluid flows freely through the defect, causing increased turbulence in the fluid just dorsal to the site of herniation. Brown-Séquard syndrome - frequently reported clinical feature. This must not be confused with Dorsal Arachnoid Cyst, which is long segmental. Phase Contrast CSF Flow velocity imaging is useful to differniate Arachnoid Cyst from Spinal cor herniation . CSF Flow is noted in spinal cord herniation in contrast to Arachnoid cyst , where no flow is seen.
Contributed By:
Dr. Babupeter
Associate Professor, Barnard Institute of Radiology
Answer:
Idiopathic Spinal cord Herniation.
Findings:
Focal anterior displacement of the thoracic spinal cord is noted at D2-D3 level with acute anterior kink (RESEMBLING GREEK LETTER ALPHA) There is also Widened posterior subarachnoid space .
Discussion:
The causes of Idiopathic Spinal cord herniation is due to Dural tear through which a portion of the cord protrudes. Cerebrospinal fluid flows freely through the defect, causing increased turbulence in the fluid just dorsal to the site of herniation. Brown-Séquard syndrome - frequently reported clinical feature. This must not be confused with Dorsal Arachnoid Cyst, which is long segmental. Phase Contrast CSF Flow velocity imaging is useful to differniate Arachnoid Cyst from Spinal cor herniation . CSF Flow is noted in spinal cord herniation in contrast to Arachnoid cyst , where no flow is seen.
Contributed By:
Dr. Babupeter
Associate Professor, Barnard Institute of Radiology