Related Experiment Videos

Idiopathic recurrent transverse myelitis with syringomyelia: a case report

Olcay Eser1, Mehmet Yaman, Murat Coşar

  • 1Afyon Kocatepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Neurosurgery Department, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey. drolcayeser@hotmail.com

Turkish Neurosurgery
|October 17, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Recurrent idiopathic transverse myelitis, a rare central nervous system (CNS) demyelinating disease, was observed in a patient. A later MRI revealed syringomyelia in the cervical cord, an unusual finding in inflammatory CNS conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Neuroimmunology
  • Spinal Cord Disorders

Background:

  • Idiopathic transverse myelitis (ITM) is typically a monophasic demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS).
  • Recurrence of ITM is uncommon, and the co-occurrence of syringomyelia with inflammatory CNS diseases is rarely documented.

Observation:

  • A 45-year-old male presented with symptoms suggestive of a cervical demyelinating event.
  • Patient history indicated a potential for recurrent attacks of myelitis.
  • Cervical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and laboratory tests confirmed recurrent transverse myelitis.

Findings:

  • The patient received medical management for the recurrent myelitis.
  • A follow-up cervical MRI conducted two years post-initial diagnosis revealed the development of syringomyelia in the cervical spinal cord.

Implications:

  • This case highlights the rare possibility of recurrent transverse myelitis.
  • The development of syringomyelia in the context of inflammatory CNS disease, particularly ITM, warrants further investigation.
  • Such findings may necessitate revised diagnostic and management strategies for patients with recurrent or atypical presentations of myelitis.

Related Concept Videos

Multiple Sclerosis l: Introduction01:19

Multiple Sclerosis l: Introduction

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that affects the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. It is an inflammatory demyelinating disorder and a leading cause of neurological disability in young adults.EpidemiologyMS commonly begins between 20 and 40 years of age and is twice as common in women. Its exact cause remains unclear, but genetic susceptibility contributes, with higher risk in first-degree relatives and identical twins. A greater...
Herniated Intervertebral Disc l: Introduction01:29

Herniated Intervertebral Disc l: Introduction

Intervertebral disc herniation refers to the displacement of the nucleus pulposus (the gel-like inner core of the disc) through a tear or weakened area in the annulus fibrosus (the outer fibrous ring). The displaced disc material extends beyond the normal boundaries of the disc space and may compress or irritate nearby spinal nerve roots or, less commonly, the spinal cord.Etiology and Risk FactorsHerniation commonly results from degeneration, in which aging reduces disc hydration and...
Secondary Spinal Cord Injury llI: Pathophysiology01:25

Secondary Spinal Cord Injury llI: Pathophysiology

Early Ischemia and Ionic ImbalanceWithin minutes of spinal cord injury, a secondary cascade begins, progressing over hours to weeks. Vascular damage reduces blood flow, causing ischemia and mitochondrial dysfunction. ATP depletion leads to ion pump failure, membrane depolarization, sodium influx, potassium efflux, and water accumulation, resulting in cellular swelling. Increased intracellular calcium further disrupts mitochondria and accelerates cellular injury.Excitotoxicity and Neuronal...