Holocord presentation refers to a process that involves the entire spinal cord from the cervicomedullary junction to the tip of the conus. It does not relate to a specific condition, nor does it distinguish between involvement by cystic expansion, solid tumor, or by a combination of both. It merely denotes that the whole cord is involved.
It is seen in a variety of conditions, most commonly comprising a significant syrinx component, although occasionally holocord involvement by a tumor is encountered 5. Generally, this is seen in young patients (children and young adults) 5.
syringohydromyelia (syrinx) without tumor e.g. Chiari I malformation
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intramedullary spinal cord tumors
astrocytoma (diffuse or pilocytic)
ependymoma (with or without peritumoral syrinx) 3,4
oligodendroglioma (rare) 2
ganglioglioma (with or without peritumoral syrinx)
hemangioblastoma (usually holocord syrinx) 6
History and etymology
The word comes from the Greek "holo-" meaning "whole" or "entire" and not from hollow, as is sometimes erroneously thought to be the case 1.
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