Presentation
Chronic low back pain with lumbar hypertrichosis.
Patient Data
Age: 18 years
Gender: Female
From the case:
Diastematomyelia - type I
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The MRI sequences demonstrate:
- mild lumbar scoliosis of left-sided convexity
- congenital vertebral block L2-L3
- diastematomyelia type I at L2-L3 (hemicords separated by a bony spur)
- the conus medullaris terminates at L2-L3 (normal anatomical variant)
- hydromyelia at L1 level
- spina bifida oculta L4-S1
Case Discussion
MRI features of a diastematomyelia type I which is the classic form characterized by
- usually symptomatic (scoliosis or signs of tethered cord syndrome)
- duplicated dural sac/cord with midline spur (osseous or fibrous)
- hydromyelia common
- vertebral abnormalities
- skin pigmentation, hemangioma, and hypertrichosis (hair patch) are common