Multiple sclerosis and non-communicating syringomyelia: a casual association or linked diseases?

Non-communicating syringomyelia (NCS) can be associated with different dise ase processes such as arachnoidytis, trauma or tumor. Approximately 12 case s, documented radiographically, of the association of non-communicating syr ingomyelia and multiple sclerosis (MS) have been described but their relati onship remains obscure. In 3 patients with laboratory supported MS spinal m agnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a central cystic cavity. In 2 pati ents lesions on the spinal cord above the cavity were demonstrated. At 3-ye ar follow-up in 1 patient, no change in the cavity was detected. Although 3 cases are insufficient for providing a definitive conclusion on the relati onship between these two diseases, we suggest that demyelinating lesions ha ve to be regarded as possible causes of spinal, asymptomatic cavities.