Dorsal cord syndrome, also known as posterior spinal cord syndrome, is one of the incomplete cord syndromes resulting from pathology affecting the posterior part of the spinal cord, particularly the dorsal columns and potentially (in larger lesions) the lateral corticospinal tracts 1.
Clinical presentation
The syndrome is clinically characterised by isolated loss of proprioception and vibratory sensation.
Pathology
Numerous entities can result in dorsal cord syndrome, including 1,2:
inflammatory (e.g. multiple sclerosis, Sjögren syndrome)
infective (e.g. tabes dorsalis, HIV-related vacuolar myelopathy)
ischaemia (e.g. posterior spinal artery syndrome)
-
mechanical
tumour (e.g. spinal metastasis)
spondylosis (e.g. compressive myelopathy)
collections (e.g. spinal epidural haematoma or spinal epidural abscess)
metabolic/toxic (e.g. subacute combined degeneration of the cord, copper deficiency myeloneuropathy, vitamin E deficiency, methotrexate-induced myelopathy)
hereditary (e.g. leukoencephalopathy with brainstem and spinal cord involvement and lactate elevation (LBSL), Friedreich ataxia, hypomyelination with brainstem and spinal cord involvement and leg spasticity (HBSL))
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