A 34 year-old woman presented with loss of sensation in the hands, extremities, chest and upper back, in a cape like distribution.

Axial MRI scans of the lower cervical spine at the C7 level. (Left) T1-weighted; (Right) T2 weighted. Note the large cystic cavity (yellow arrows) in the center of the spinal cord extending from C6 - T3. A syrinx often first presents with bilateral upper extremity loss of pain and temperature sensation from early involvement of the crossing spinothalamic fibers. Syringomyelia is often associated with congenital malformations, intrinsic cord tumors, or may follow spinal trauma.

Revised 04/27/06.
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