Syringohydromyelia or HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis. A diagnostic challenge. Case report.
Arq Neuropsiquiatr
; 57(2A): 284-7, 1999 Jun.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-10412531
ABSTRACT
Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) is the most common chronic myelopathy in Brazil. We present the case of a 53 year old man that fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for HAM/TSP but had at the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spinal cord evidences of syringohydromyelia at the C6-C7 and D2-D7 levels along with Chiari type I malformation. The clinical picture was more typical of HAM/TSP than of syringohydromyelia, which was probably asymptomatic. The present case clearly demonstrates that serology and neuroimaging should be always used together. We conclude that, specially in places where HTLV-I is endemic, every patient with a spastic paraparesis, even with a radiological picture suggestive of a structural spinal cord lesion, should have a screening test for HTLV-I. The clinical picture must dictate the final direction of the diagnosis.
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Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Siringomielia
/
Paraparesia Espástica Tropical
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Arq Neuropsiquiatr
Ano de publicação:
1999
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Brasil