Atypical presentation of syringomyelia mimicking as motor neuron disease: A case report

Abstract

This is a case involving a 27-year-old Filipino female who presented with a chief complaint of progressive weakness in all extremities. The initial assessment of the patient’s clinical history and the neurologic examination revealed the presence of a motor neuron disease. This conclusion was drawn based on the observation of both upper and lower motor neuron signs. Furthermore, the findings from the Electromyography (EMG) Nerve Conduction Velocity (NCV) findings suggest active and chronic generalized disorder of motor neurons. However, craniospinal MRI revealed the presence of a long segment C1-T12 syringomyelia, accompanied by an extradural, extramedullary cystic mass at the T12 to L1 level. This paper is the first one to report an atypical presentation of syringomyelia as a motor neuron disease secondary to a non-chiari malformation.