Syringomyelia

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Overview

Symptoms

Treatment

Prevention

Syringomyelia

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
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:

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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).