[Idiopathic spinal cord herniation: a rare condition]

Idiopathic spinal cord hernia, in which the reason that spinal cord protrudes through a defect in the dura mater is unknown, is a rare cause of progressive myelopathy. The most common clinical presentation is Brown-Séquard syndrome. Spinal cord herniation is a reversible cause of myelopathy: surgery to correct the defect in the dura mater has a high rate of functional recovery. Thus, early imaging detection is crucial. Magnetic resonance imaging is the technique of choice for the diagnosis. We present two cases of idiopathic spinal cord herniation and show the imaging findings that make it possible to recognize and diagnose this condition.