syringomyelia
[sĭ-ring″go-mi-e´le-ah] a slowly progressive syndrome in which cavitation occurs in the central (usually cervical) segments of the spinal cord; the lesions may extend up into the medulla oblongata (
syringobulbia) or down into the thoracic region. It may be of developmental origin, arise secondary to tumor, trauma, infarction, or hemorrhage, or be without known cause. It results in neurological deficits that generally consist of segmental muscular weakness and atrophy accompanied by a dissociated sensory loss (loss of pain and temperature sensation, with preservation of the sense of touch), and thoracic scoliosis is often present. Called also
cystic myelopathy and
Morvan's syndrome.
Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.
sy·rin·go·my·e·li·a
(sĭ-ring'gō-mī-ē'lē-ă), [MIM*186700 and MIM*272480] The presence in the spinal cord of longitudinal cavities lined by dense, gliogenous tissue, which is not caused by vascular insufficiency. Syringomyelia is marked clinically by pain and paresthesia, followed by muscular atrophy of the hands and analgesia with thermoanesthesia of the hands and arms, but with the tactile sense preserved; later marked by painless whitlow, spastic paralysis in the lower extremities, and scoliosis of the lumbar spine. Some cases are associated with low grade gliomas or vascular malformations of the spinal cord.
[syringo- + G. myelos, marrow]
Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
sy·rin·go·my·e·li·a
(si-ring'gō-mī-ē'lē-ă) The presence in the spinal cord of longitudinal cavities lined by dense, gliogenous tissue, which are not caused by vascular insufficiency. Syringomyelia is marked clinically by pain and paresthesia, followed by muscular atrophy of the hands and analgesia with thermoanesthesia of the hands and arms, but with the tactile sense preserved; it is later marked by painless whitlows, spastic paralysis in the lower extremities, and scoliosis of the lumbar spine. Some cases are associated with low-grade astrocytomas or vascular malformations of the spinal cord.
Synonym(s):
hydrosyringomyelia,
Morvan disease.
[syringo- + G. myelos, marrow]
Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012