[Cervical dural ectasia in von Recklinghausen's disease]

A case of cervical dural ectasia in von Recklinghausen's disease is reported. A 36-year-old female was admitted to our hospital with complaints of hypesthesia in the extremities and gait disturbance. Plain cervical x-ray films showed dilated interpediculate distance and increased A-P diameter of the cervical spinal canal. Myelography showed abnormally dilated subarachnoid space at C4-C7 level. Metrizamide CT scan also revealed abnormally dilated subarachnoid space, which was at the ventral site of the spinal cord. No tumors, arachnoid cysts, syringomyelia were noticed. From the above-mentioned radiological findings, dural ectasia in von Recklinghausen's disease was suggested. In the discussion, it was emphasized to consider dural ectasia in the differential diagnosis of the dilated spinal canal.