SPONTANEOUS DRAINAGE OF SYRINGOMYELIA - REPORT OF 2 CASES

Two cases are reported of Arnold-Chiari type I malformation associated with syringomyelia, in which magnetic resonance (MR) imaging revealed spontaneous decompression of the syrinx. In one case axial MR imaging sections showed a communication between the syrinx and the spinal sub arachnoid space, which supports the hypothesis that fissuring of the c ord parenchyma is instrumental in the spontaneous resolution of syring omyelia. The MR imaging changes were not accompanied by variations in the patients' clinical course.