Syringomyelia: Diagnosis and Treatment

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has revolutionized our understanding of many neurological diseases. This is the first textbook on syringomyelia by a single team of authors since the introduction of this imaging modality. Based on a pathophysiological concept which is presented in the opening chapters of this book, we provide guidelines for diagnosis and surgical treatment of patients with syringomyelia. Syringomyelia is a manifestation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow obstruction, spinal cord tethering, or a spinal cord tumor. Therefore, an underlying pathology characterized by at least one of these features can be identified for every patient. Each entity which may lead to syringomyelia is described in a separate chapter, covering clincial presentations, neuroradiological features, neurophysiology, surgical indications and techniques and a detailed analysis of postoperative results. Special sections are devoted to patients in whom surgical treatment failed initially.This book should help any physician dealing with a patient with syringomyelia to initiate the appropriate diagnostic test and studies to identify the underlying disorder. Based on the analyses of postoperative outcomes for each of these disorders, the patient may be advised to either undergo surgery or to continue conservative treatment. Neurosurgeons are given precise guidelines for surgical indications and strategies. Microsurgical techniques are illustrated step by step and include detailed intraoperative photographs.