Discussion
Syringomyelia is a condition where a cyst, usually composed of excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), forms within the spinal cord. Although syrinxes commonly form as a focal dilation of the central canal, they can also form within the spinal cord parenchyma [
1]. These lesions can develop in association with a variety of both congenital anatomic anomalies and acquired structural abnormalities, including scoliosis, spina bifida, Chiari malformations, tumors and hemorrhage, as well as post-infectious, post-inflammatory and post-traumatic conditions [
2]. Syringomyelia can be further classified based on the pathological and magnetic resonance characteristics of various spinal cord cysts and divided into five groups: non-communicating, communicating, primary parenchymal cavitations, atrophic cavitations and neoplastic cavitations [
3].
Chiari malformation type I, a type of non-communicating syringomyelia, is the most common cause of this condition [
3]. Imaging of patients with this disorder reveals cerebellar tonsilar ectopia that may protrude through the foramen magnum. The manner in which this simple anatomic anomaly results in cavitation within the spinal cord remains poorly understood, despite the multiple theories that have been proposed following radiographic and pathologic analyses, flow dynamics studies, and experimental animal models. Possible theories for the pathogenesis of syringomyelia secondary to Chiari malformation type I include CSF flow from the fourth canal due to arterial pulsation, with the central canal acting as a one-way valve, or a relative pressure dissociation between the intracranial and spinal subarachnoid spaces; CSF flow from the spinal subarachnoid space via perivascular spaces; and extracellular fluid from spinal cord microcirculation due to disturbed extracellular fluid absorption through intramedullary venous channels [
4]. Because of the sensitivity to pressure, symptoms may worsen with the Valsalva maneuver or other activities that may affect CSF pressure.
Although there are case reports that describe instances of acute syringomyelia, onset is generally chronic and slowly progressive. In some cases, syringomyelia is discovered incidentally on MRI in an asymptomatic patient; furthermore, patients can remain asymptomatic throughout their life and require no further follow-up or management. In the majority of cases, however, syringomyelia causes sufficient pressure on the spinal cord to cause a wide variety of symptoms. Most lesions develop in the cervical spinal cord and can expand superiorly into the brainstem, resulting in a syringobulbia, as well as inferiorly into the thoracic and even lumbar regions. As a result of the different syrinx types, spinal levels involved, degree of extension and diameter of lesion, symptomatology can be quite complicated and varied among patients.
Possible initial presenting symptoms include headache, severe segmental central and dysesthetic pain, loss of temperature and pain sensation, down-beating nystagmus, vocal cord dysmotility, urinary frequency and incontinence, stiffness, weakness, and scoliosis [
5‐
7]. This varied presentation can lead to misdiagnosis.
Our patient initially developed unilateral upper extremity weakness that gradually progressed to involve the contralateral limb by the time he was first seen by a physician. For several years, despite the severity of weakness and muscular atrophy, his symptoms were confined to his upper extremities. Our patient received a diagnosis of muscular dystrophy despite developing a pattern of symptoms that did not correspond with this diagnosis. Over 20 years later, his examination and work-up demonstrated severe focal segmental wasting and weakness of his upper extremities in addition to mild weakness of his lower extremities, unilateral vocal cord paralysis, and paraspinal muscle atrophy. Findings on examination correlated with a central cord syndrome.
Given the topography of the weakness in his upper extremities with predominant involvement of his forearm and distal muscles, lower motor neuron disorders were considered. Hirayama disease, also known as monomelic amyotrophy, is a sporadic focal motor neuron disease that primarily affects young men in the second and third decades of life. Although it is characterized by its gradual onset of focal muscular atrophy like other motor neuron diseases, it differs in that symptoms typically plateau within a few years without further worsening of symptoms or development of new symptoms. As a result, Hirayama disease is often described as a benign motor neuron disease. The disease will commonly affect a single limb, usually an upper extremity. Nonetheless, unaffected limbs may also show evidence of reinnervation on nerve conduction studies (NCS) and EMG [
8]. Similarly, bibrachial amyotrophy or flail arm syndrome is a variation of lower motor neuron disease that only affects the upper extremities. Compared to typical amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, flail arm syndrome also has a much better prognosis [
9].
Once a syrinx is suspected, prompt imaging with MRI is important. Without early detection and treatment, some cases may progress such that spinal cord injury results in irreversible neurologic injury. Lesions are seen easily on brain and spine imaging, both in axial and sagittal planes, with several different magnetic resonance techniques [
10]. NCS and EMG can also be used in the diagnosis of syringomyelia. CMAP amplitude diminishment, the presence of fibrillation potentials, chronic neurogenic motor unit potential (MUP) changes and reduced MUP recruitment in affected spinal segment levels can all provide clues to the diagnosis [
11]. Our MRI findings of extensive syringohydromyelia from C1 to T11, NCS and EMG findings of severe motor neuronopathy in the cervical myotomes with sparing of sensory nerves, and his normal lower extremity NCS parameters and EMG findings did correlate with our patient’s clinical course and examination.
Treatment for syringomyelia is primarily surgical; however, not all cases require surgical intervention. Asymptomatic incidental lesions generally are followed clinically with periodic imaging, although there are centers where prophylactic surgery is performed [
12]. Mild symptomatic cases of syringomyelia can remain stable and sometimes even gradually spontaneously resolve. Although controversial, mild cases are often treated conservatively as well [
13]. In the case of symptomatic acquired syringomyelia, treatment of the underlying acquired cause is attempted before surgical intervention. Patients with clear symptoms are treated with surgical decompression to restore normal CSF flow. Several techniques exist, including posterior foramen magnum decompression with or without dural opening, anterior foramen magnum decompression, and shunting [
7]. Patients usually stabilize or experience modest improvement in their symptoms following surgical correction of the underlying cause of the syrinx. Recurrence or residual syringomyelia following Chiari decompression in adults occurs in an average of 6.7% of cases. In cases of large holocord syringes, spinal cord injury may lead to permanent symptoms or disability, despite adequate decompression and reduction of the syrinx caliber [
14].
Delay of diagnosis resulted in a severe gradual deterioration in our patient. His initial clinical diagnosis of muscular dystrophy was further confirmed with diagnostic studies, according to the family, although we acknowledge that another muscle biopsy may be needed to exclude a diagnosis of muscular dystrophy (though we doubt that this was the actual diagnosis). As a result of the original diagnosis, however, our patient did not seek further evaluation for several years because he understood that there was no treatment for his condition. Decades later, further work-up with simple imaging techniques easily confirmed the etiology of his symptoms. Unfortunately, this delay in diagnosis resulted in the development of irreversible severe chronic muscle wasting. With such advanced atrophy and severe weakness, surgery will likely not provide significant functional benefit.
The differential diagnosis of bibrachial atrophy and syringomyelia is important. While we cannot definitively exclude that both the cervicothoracic syringomyelia and the bibrachial amyotrophy occurred as two separate entities, we doubt this. We feel instead that our patient’s Chiari malformation type I with cervicothoracic syringomyelia masqueraded as bibrachial amyotrophy. This is supported by our electrodiagnostic findings, which did not show active denervation in both limbs but rather isolated active denervation in the right triceps brachii, along with the absence of muscle fasciculations and upper motor neuron signs on physical examination. Furthermore, the fact that our patient’s symptoms began relatively suddenly, at an earlier age then is typical for bibrachial atrophy, and his survival to date argue against him having bibrachial atrophy as a separate entity. Concerning the other important possibility of Hirayama disease, we also feel that this is unlikely as there was no neck pain and our patient eventually developed unilateral vocal cord paralysis, which is atypical in this disorder. Additionally, our patient progressed to develop contralateral limb paresis. This along with the aforementioned relatively sudden onset of his symptoms argue against monomelic amyotrophy (Hirayama disease).
We do not know why our patient’s symptoms were stable for over 20 years. Although there was no history of any preceding head or neck trauma, perhaps the syrinx rapidly enlarged in the process of the disease. Without prior imaging, this is impossible to say with any certainty.
Of interest, our patient did not complain of occipital or neck pain. This may be explained by findings in his recent sagittal MRI images. Despite showing the downward descent of the cerebellar tonsils, these images showed wide CSF spaces at the level of the foramen magnum, without signs of medullary compression. It would be helpful to show axial T2 images at the level of the foramen magnum to show the degree of brain stem compression, but unfortunately these were not available. We feel, however, that the other images suffice in this regard.
Much remains to be addressed in our understanding and management of syringomyelia. Despite multiple proposed theories for its pathogenesis, the development of intramedullary cysts within the spinal cord is still not completely understood. Recognition of key symptoms is often difficult given the nonspecific nature of presenting symptoms. Once diagnosed, a clear management strategy and surgical approach remains somewhat elusive. A greater awareness of this disorder is necessary among clinicians from a variety of disciplines given the potential for severe debilitation and difficult-to-treat pain syndromes in misdiagnosed or poorly managed cases.
Competing interests
All authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Authors’ contributions
JRM and SRB examined the patient. JRM wrote the initial manuscript. SRB supervised the coordination of clinical care, rewrote and edited the manuscript, performed an additional literature search, and examined and interpreted the MRI scans. RAR also reviewed the manuscript (including additional image interpretation), and revised and further edited the manuscript using an additional literature search. SRB and RAR were responsible for the intellectual content of the paper along with critical appraisals, suggestions and revisions. All authors participated in and provided significant contributions to writing the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.