Holocord presentation

Holocord presentation refers to a process which involves the spinal cord, from 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 or 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 tumor is encountered ⁵. Generally this is seen in young patients (children and young adults) ⁵.

• syringohydromyelia (syrinx) without tumor e.g. chiari 1 malformation
• intramedullary spinal cord tumors
  • astrocytoma (diffuse or pilocytic)
  • ependymoma (with or without peritumoral syrinx) ^3,4
  • oligodendroglioma (rare) ²
  • teratoma
  • ganglioglioma (with or without peritumoral syrinx)
  • hemangioblastoma (usually holocord syrinx) ⁶
  • lymphoma

History and etymology

The word comes from Greek "holo-" meaning "whole" or "entire" and not from hollow, as is sometimes erroneously thought to be the case ¹.