syringomyelia
Sign in to saveSyringomyelia is a generic term referring to a disorder in which a cyst or cavity forms within the spinal cord. Often, syringomyelia is used as a generic term before an etiology is determined. This cyst, called a syrinx, can expand and elongate over time, destroying the spinal cord. The damage may result in loss of feeling, paralysis, weakness, and stiffness in the back, shoulders, and extremities.
Key facts
- Medical condition.name
- Syringomyelia
- Medical condition.image
- File:Syringomyelia (with arrow).png
- Medical condition.caption
- Syrinx within the spinal cord
- Medical condition.field
- Neurology
- Medical condition.symptoms
- loss of sensitivity to pain and temperature
- Medical condition.complications
- Chronic pain, muscle weakness, paralysis
- Medical condition.diagnosis
- MRI
- Medical condition.treatment
- Surgery, monitoring, pain management
via Wikipedia infobox
Article
13 sectionsContents
- Signs and symptoms
- Cause
- Congenital
- Acquired
- Pathogenesis
- Diagnosis
- Treatment
- Surgery
- Non-surgical interventions
- Research
- See also
- References
- External links
Syringomyelia is a generic term referring to a disorder in which a cyst or cavity forms within the spinal cord. Often, syringomyelia is used as a generic term before an etiology is determined. This cyst, called a syrinx, can expand and elongate over time, destroying the spinal cord. The damage may result in loss of feeling, paralysis, weakness, and stiffness in the back, shoulders, and extremities.
Syringomyelia may also cause a loss of the ability to feel extremes of hot or cold, especially in the hands. It may also lead to a cape-like bilateral loss of pain and temperature sensation along the upper chest and arms. The combination of symptoms varies from one patient to another depending on the location of the syrinx within the spinal cord, as well as its extent.