[Diagnosis of diastematomyelia using ultrasound]

During the last two years diastematomyelia was found sonographically in 4 patients and confirmed by myelography combined with CT-myelography. In one case an autopsy was done. Three times ultrasounddiagnosis was established during the newborn-period. Spinal sonography allows soonest diagnosis even in severely ill newborn and premature infants and provides a basis for further examination (M, CT M and MRI). The clinical and radiological features of diastematomyelia and the associated malformations are explained and the indications for spinal sonography in the newborn-period are stressed.