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Compressive myelomalacia - snake eyes appearance

Case contributed by Yune Kwong
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Request reads 'bilateral leg weakness, brisk knee jerk, absent ankle jerk, MRI spine to rule out myelopathy'

Patient Data

Age: 70 years
Gender: Female

Note: This case has been tagged as "legacy" as it no longer meets image preparation and/or other case publication guidelines.

Initial scan

mri

On sagittal images, there is central canal stenosis with high cord signal consistent with myelomalacia. On axials, the gray matter is seen to be edematous and hyperintense, giving the 'snake eyes' sign.

Post-operative scan

mri

Following wide laminectomy, there is resolution of the cord compression, and improvement in the grey matter hyperintensity.

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