Syringomyelia

Syringomyelia is a disorder in which a fluid-filled cavity forms within the spinal cord. As it expands, it can damage nerve tissue and cause pain, weakness, or sensory loss.

Syrinx (medicine): A fluid-filled cavity within the spinal cord or brainstem. This cavity is the defining structural feature of syringomyelia.
Magnetic resonance imaging: An imaging technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed views of internal structures. MRI is the main method for locating and assessing a syrinx.
Hydromyelia: An enlargement of the spinal cord’s central canal with cerebrospinal fluid. The term often describes central-canal dilation, unlike syrinxes that may extend beyond it.
Dissociated sensory loss: Loss of some sensory modalities with relative preservation of others, often involving pain and temperature. A central syrinx can interrupt crossing pain-and-temperature fibers while sparing other pathways.
Cerebrospinal fluid: A clear fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord and circulates through the central nervous system. Abnormal cerebrospinal-fluid movement can contribute to syrinx formation.
Neurological examination: A clinical assessment of sensory, motor, reflex, and cognitive nervous-system function. Examination can reveal deficits caused by spinal-cord injury.
Syringobulbia: A fluid-filled cavity extending into the brainstem. It is a related condition in which the cavity reaches beyond the spinal cord.
Spinothalamic tract: A spinal pathway that carries pain and temperature signals toward the brain. Its crossing fibers near the central cord are vulnerable to an expanding syrinx.
Central canal of the spinal cord: A narrow channel running through the spinal cord, lined by ependymal cells. Some syrinxes connect with or arise near this channel.
Decompression surgery: Surgery that enlarges or relieves pressure on a constrained anatomical passage. For Chiari-related syringomyelia, decompression may restore fluid flow and reduce the cavity.

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