THE PATHOGENESIS OF SYRINGOMYELIA IN SPINAL-CORD EPENDYMOMA

A spinal cord ependymoma with syringomyelia is presented. The pathogen esis of syrinx formation, associated with intramedullary tumors is not fully understood. In order to examine the mechanism of formation of t he tumor-associated syrinx, syrinx fluid was obtained during surgery a nd concentrations of proteins were measured in the syrinx fluid, the c erebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood serum. Protein analysis of fluid sp ecimens showed the fluid in tumor-associated syrinx to be an exudate. This strongly indicates that, in this case, intramedullary tumor-assoc iated syringomyelia is based on disruption of the blood-brain barrier.