This 50 y/o female patient with back pain was referred for MRI. Selected saggital and axial images shown above demonstrate a Type II split cord malformation. There is a single dural sac with a band splitting the tethered cord. There ia a syringohydromyelia above the level of the band. Note is also made of spinal dysraphic changes at L2-L3, the level of the band. Review of the articles by Pang et al.1,2,3 below will help to elucidate the rationale for a move away from the terms diastematomyelia and/or diplomyelia to describe split cord malformations.
  1. Dias MS, Pang D. Split cord malformations. Neurosurg Clin N Am 1995 Apr;6(2):339-58 UI:95345724
  2. Pang D, Dias MS, Ahab-Barmada M. Split cord malformation: Part I: A unified theory of embryogenesis for double spinal cord malformations. Neurosurgery 1992 Sep;31(3):451-80 UI:93025491
  3. Pang D. Split cord malformation: Part II: Clinical syndrome. Neurosurgery 1992 Sep;31(3):481-500 UI:93025492
  4. Russell NA, Benoit BG, Joaquin AJ. Diastematomyelia in adults. A review. Pediatr Neurosurg 1990-91;16(4-5):252-7 UI:92232571
  5. Prasad VS, Sengar RL, Sahu BP, Immaneni D. Diastematomyelia in adults. Modern imaging and operative treatment. Clin Imaging 1995 Oct-Dec;19(4):270-4 UI:96127357
  6. Iskandar BJ, Oakes WJ, McLaughlin C, Osumi AK, Tien RD. Terminal syringohydromyelia and occult spinal dysraphism. J Neurosurg 1994 Oct;81(4):513-9 UI:95017010
    Comment in: J Neurosurg 1995 Jul;83(1):185-6
  7. Linn RM, Ford LT. Adult diastematomyelia. Spine 1994 Apr 1;19(7):852-4 UI:94261935
  8. Conzen MA, Oppel F, Villagran R. Diastematomyelia combined with disc herniation at T 6/7 in an adult. Case report. Neurosurg Rev 1989;12(2):177-81 UI:89385181
  9. Thron A, Schroth G. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of diastematomyelia. Neuroradiology 1986;28(4):371-2 UI:87015238
  10. Hulser PJ, Schroth G, Petersen D. Magnetic resonance and CT imaging of diastematomyelia. Eur Arch Psychiatry Neurol Sci 1985;235(2):107-9 UI:86055890
  11. Skalej M, Duffner F, Stefanou A, Petersen D. 3D spiral CT imaging of bone anomalies in a case of diastematomyelia. Eur J Radiol 1999 Mar;29(3):262-5 UI:99327812
  12. Iskandar BJ, Fulmer BB, Hadley MN, Oakes WJ. Congenital tethered spinal cord syndrome in adults. J Neurosurg 1998 Jun;88(6):958-61 UI:98270451
    Comment in: J Neurosurg 1999 Jan;90(1):175
  13. Wolf A, Bradford D, Lonstein J, Ogilvie J, Erickson D. The adult diplomyelia syndrome. Spine 1987 Apr;12(3):233-7 UI:87234632

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