THE RESOLUTION OF SYRINGOHYDROMYELIA WITHOUT HINDBRAIN HERNIATION AFTER POSTERIOR-FOSSA DECOMPRESSION

Object. To provide more information about this rare condition, the aut hors describe five cases of syringohydromyelia without hindbrain herni ation. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging with and without gadoli nium-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic add revealed no evidence of spinal cord tumor, arachnoiditis, or spinal dysraphism. Methods. Craniocervi cal decompression was performed in all patients, after which there was resolution of the symptoms in the four symptomatic patients, and all five showed marked reduction in the size of the syrinx. Conclusions. T he authors hypothesize the rare occurrence of syringohydromyelia resul ting from a Chiari-like pathophysiological condition but tacking a hin dbrain hernia. Patients with this condition may benefit from craniocer vical decompression.