Presentation
Scoliotic deformity since birth. Hair tuft in back.
Patient Data
Spinal cord split into two halves by a bony spur as described, and seen on coronal and axial images.
Case Discussion
A 10-year-old male presented with scoliotic deformity since birth, with a hairy skin tag on his back. Multiple segmentation anomalies were observed on plain radiograph, with widening of interpedicular distance. MRI was subsequently performed to evaluate the status of the spinal cord.
T2 sagittal images reveal the spinal cord is split into two halves from the level of lower thoracic vertebra up to S1 vertebra. T1 and T2 axial images show the spinal cord split into two halves, with a hypointense (on both T1/T2) spur in the midline. Each hemicord is enclosed within its own dural sheath, and a bony/fibrous spur was found between these sacs. An associated 'dermal sinus' can also be seen with dysraphic spine and vertebral segmentation anomalies.
A diagnosis of Pang Type 1 diastematomyelia was made.