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Cervical Diastematomyelia: A Case Presentation and Systematic Review
Jeff F Zhang1, Oleksandr Strelko2, Oleksandr Komarov3
1Department of Neurosurgery, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York.
Journal of Neurological Surgery Reports
|May 27, 2024
Summary
Diastematomyelia, a rare congenital spinal cord disorder, is most common in the thoracic and lumbar spine. This systematic review reveals cervical diastematomyelia occurs in only 1.6% of cases, with a 2.6:1 female-to-male ratio.
Area of Science:
- Medical Science
- Neurology
- Congenital Disorders
Background:
- Diastematomyelia is a rare congenital condition involving spinal cord division by a septum.
- Previous reports suggest a higher incidence in thoracic and lumbar regions, but cervical diastematomyelia prevalence is unclear.
Observation:
- A systematic review of 91 articles analyzed 903 cases of diastematomyelia.
- Cervical diastematomyelia was identified in only 1.6% (8 cases) of the reported instances.
- The study observed a female predominance (72.0%) and identified Type I (67.0%) and Type II (33.0%) classifications.
Findings:
- This comprehensive review establishes the incidence of cervical diastematomyelia at 1.6%.
- The disorder exhibits a female-to-male ratio of approximately 2.6:1.
- Type I diastematomyelia is nearly twice as common as Type II.
Implications:
- Provides crucial epidemiological data on cervical diastematomyelia, aiding in understanding its rarity.
- Highlights the need for continued research into the specific characteristics and potential clinical significance of cervical diastematomyelia.
- Offers valuable insights into the demographic and classification patterns of diastematomyelia overall.
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