Médula espinal amarrada. Reporte de caso / Case Report: Tethered cord syndrome

We present the case of a 31-year-old patient recent diagnosed with tethered cord syndrome, by MRI, before urgent caesarian section. The image shows the conus medullaris in a low location, reaching L5-S1, which could lead to potential neurological damage if it hadn't been diagnosed. Tethered cord syndrome is a condition in which the spinal cord is enlongated and in a low location, attached to an inelastic structure that holds the conus medullaris, blocking its normal ascension during growth. As a result, the conus medullaris is located below L2 vertebral body, increasing the risk of suffering direct neural damage at spinal anesthesia. Even if direct cord injury can be avoided, the injection of a local anesthetic agent may increase the subarachnoidal preassure leading undirectly to spinal cord damage. The tethered cord is considered to be a contraindication for spinal anesthesia. The incidence of tethered cord is unknown, it can be asymptomatic in adults or present non-specific symptoms, making it difficult to detect before anesthesia. The MRI is the best method for adult diagnosis, allowing us to evaluate the conus medullaris location, injuries and deformations

Presentamos el caso de una paciente de 31 años coordinada para cesárea de urgencia con diagnóstico reciente de médula amarrada (MA) por resonancia magnética. La imagen muestra el cono medular descendido hasta por lo menos L5-S1, exponiéndola a un potencial daño neurológico de no contar con el diagnóstico. Médula amarrada es una condición en la cual la médula espinal se encuentra estirada y descendida por una estructura inelástica que amarra el cono medular, evitando su normal ascenso durante el crecimiento. Como resultado, el cono medular se encuentra por debajo del cuerpo de L2, incrementando el riesgo de lesión directa con la aguja de raquianestesia. Incluso en aquellos pacientes en que la lesión directa no se produce, la inyección del anestésico local puede aumentar la presión subaracnoidea pudiendo provocar una lesión indirecta. La MA es considerada una contraindicación para la anestesia raquídea. La incidencia de MA se desconoce, en adultos puede ser asintomática o presentar síntomas inespecíficos dificultando su diagnóstico preoperatorio. La RNM es el método de elección para el diagnóstico en adultos, permitiéndonos valorar la localización del cono medular, lesiones y malformaciones En neonatos la ultrasonografía puede ser también de utilidad para el diagnóstico.

Congenital hemangioma in spondylocostal dysostosis: a novel association

Abstract Congenital hemangioma is a benign tumor caused by dysfunction in embryogenesis and vasculogenesis, which progresses during fetal life to manifest as fully developed at birth. Although hemangiomas are the most common tumor of infancy, rapidly involuting congenital hemangioma has not been described in spondylocostal dysostosis. I report the novel association of congenital hemangioma and spondylocostal dysostosis in a Mexican newborn female patient with neural tube defects. Given the embryological relationship between skin and nervous system, I surmise that this association is not coincidental. I also propose that these morphologic alterations be incorporated to the spondylocostal dysostosis phenotype and specifically looked for in other affected children, in order to provide appropriate medical management and genetic counseling.

Report of 4 cases of the diastematomyelia diagnosis by MRI during one year

Diastematomyelia is one of the uncomon and occult spinal dysraphisms. The term is derived from two latin word: diastemato means split and myelous means cord. The pathological characteristics consist of longitudinal cleft in the spinal cord of the lower thoracic and upper lumbar spinal column in children and rarely in adults. This report has encountered with 4 cases during one year [2003-2004] in M.R.I, centers of university and private clinic that MRI showing a midline dimple shape and hemicord appearance. This study and article found that patient diagnosis with MRI is more reliable and more accurate than other radiological techniques specially CT scanning, because of multisectional and multiplanners for a better view of the lesion. In this study most of patients are a female infant with a majority of clinical neurologic findings including motor and sensory loss in the lower extremities and bladder dysfunction

Ultrasonographic fetal nomograms of anterior ventricular hemisphere ratio (AVHR) and posterior ventricular hemisphere ratio (PVHR) for early prenatal diagnosis of hydrocephalus.

Serial ultrasound scans were done in 150 fetuses between 14th to 22nd week of gestation to establish the nomograms of anterior ventricular hemisphere ratio (AVHR) and posterior ventricular hemisphere ratio (PVHR). Of 150 fetuses, 100 were in the high risk group for neural tube defect and 50 were in the control group. The study indicates that the value of AVHR decreases from 0.62 to 0.50 and PVHR from 0.60 to 0.50 between 14th to 22nd week of gestation. No statistical difference was observed in the values of AVHR and PVHR in high risk and low risk (control) cases (p > .001). The value of AVHR or PVHR greater than 0.5 after 18 weeks of gestation or more was considered pathological for hydrocephalus. In 2, out of 3 cases of hydrocephalus detected in our series, the value of AVHR and PVHR was 0.7 at 20 weeks and in the third case it was 0.6 at 18 weeks. All of these values were 3 SD above the normal for the period of gestation.