Prenatal and postnatal evaluation for syringomyelia in patients with spinal dysraphism

Abstract

These data suggest that syringomyelia is not a congenital embryonic condition. A syrinx was not identified in fetuses who underwent imaging for other intrauterine anomalies. In the population of patients with NTDs who are known to be at high risk for developing syringomyelia, the pathology was only identified in 2 third-trimester fetuses or postnatally, typically in the presence of hydrocephalus, shunt placement, Chiari malformation decompression, or tethered cord release. The study supports the authors' hypothesis that a syrinx is an acquired lesion, most likely due to the effects of abnormal CSF flow.