Presentation
Lumbosacral hypertrichosis. MRI to rule out spinal dysraphism.
Patient Data
Age: 3 years
Gender: Male
From the case:
Diastematomyelia type I
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The MRI sequences demonstrate:
- low lying spinal cord terminating at L4-L5 level with a small hydromyelia
- diastematomyelia type I at L4 (hemicords separated by a bony spur)
- spina bifida at several levels with no meningocele or myelomeningocele
- butterfly vertebrae T4, T9, and T11
- mild dorsolumbar scoliosis of right-sided convexity
Case Discussion
MRI features of diastematomyelia, also known as a split cord malformation type I which is the classic type characterized by:
- duplicated dural sac with midline spur (osseous or osteocartilaginous)
- associated hydromyelia is common
- vertebral abnormalities such as hemivertebrae, butterfly vertebrae, spina bifida
- cutaneous pigmentation, hypertrichosis, hemangioma are common
- patients are usually symptomatic presenting with scoliosis and tethered cord syndrome