HYDROSYRINGOMYELIA AND DIASTEMATOMYELIA DETECTED BY MRI IN MYELOMENINGOCELE

Magnetic resonance imaging of the spine in 45 patients with myelomeningocele revealed hydrosyringomyelia in 24 and diastematomyelia in two. No patient at initial imaging manifested symptoms referable to hydrosyringomyelia; both patients with diastematomyelia had flaccid lower extremities. One patient developed an upper extremity monoparesis which resolved with syringoperitoneal shunt placement; no other patient manifested symptoms or required surgery. Ventriculoperitoneal shunt malfunction produced reversible distention of the syrinx in another patient who remained asymptomatic.