Cervical diastematomyelia in a patient with Pierre-Robin syndrome - A case report

Pierre-Robin syndrome (PRS) is a disorder characterized by mandibular hypoplasia, leading to upper airway obstruction and feeding difficulties due to backward displacement of the tongue (glossoptosis). Cervical diastematomyelia is another rare congenital condition in which the spinal cord splits into two hemicords at the level of the cervical spine.

We report a unique case of a 6-month-old boy who has cervical diastematomyelia and PRS. At birth, our patient had mandibular hypoplasia, respiratory distress, a posterior parietal region swelling, and reduced tone in all four limbs. On current examination, he now also has left-sided torticollis along with the findings mentioned at birth. Imaging demonstrated features consistent with an atretic parietal cephalocele, enlarged cerebellum in comparison with age-matched group, and short segment type II diastematomyelia in the proximal cervical spinal cord.

In patients with these complex congenital anomalies, improving outcomes requires early detection and tailored management strategies.