HYPERTROPHIC SPINAL PACHYMENINGITIS

A patient with idiopathic hypertrophic spinal pachymeningitis (HSP) wi th predominant involvement of the cervical and thoracic dura is report ed. Serial magnetic resonance (MR) images detected isolated thickening and ridges of the dura mater. There has been no report describing the serial changes of MR images in idiopathic HSP. According to a review of the English and Japanese literature on idiopathic HSP, the prognosi s of patients with positive inflammatory signs is worse than that of t hose with no inflammatory signs. Idiopathic HSP is a rarely reported d isease that can resemble other disorders associated with dural compres sion. MR imaging can help to differentiate it from other disorders, an d enables the diagnosis of the disease in its early stage. The prognos is of idiopathic HSP with positive inflammatory signs may be worse; th e authors stress the significance of early surgical treatment.