How is Syringomyelia Diagnosed?
DiagnosisYour doctor will need to perform a physical exam and review your medical history before diagnosing syringomyelia. Diagnosis is then confirmed through a neurological exam and imaging tests of the brain and spine, including:
- Neurological exams, or neuro exams, seek to evaluate your nervous system as well as your motor and sensory skills. Neuro exams can check your mental status. They also test motor function and balance by checking how you walk or stand, or how you can push or pull using your arms and legs. They also include sensory tests that check your ability to feel.
- MRIs are the most common ways to diagnose syringomyelia, as they provide a detailed view of the spine and can clearly show tumors or syrinxes. Your doctor may order a dynamic MRI, in which multiple MRIs are taken rapidly to depict how the cerebrospinal fluid flows around the spinal cord and in the syrinx.
- CT scans. Some patients who cannot get an MRI will undergo a CT scan instead, often along with a myelogram. Myelograms are imaging tests that involve a contrast dye and CT that help highlight abnormalities in your spinal cord.
- X-rays. X-rays are another type of imaging test that can show abnormalities in the spine.
How is Syringomyelia Treated?
TreatmentSyringomyelia treatment depends on the severity and progression of symptoms. If you’ve been diagnosed with syringomyelia but don’t have any symptoms yet, your doctor may simply monitor you over time with MRIs and neurological exams to ensure it’s not progressing.
If you have severe symptoms and the disease is progressing, syringomyelia surgery may be an option for you.
Surgical options
If your syringomyelia symptoms are severe, worsening, or interfering with your daily life, you may be a candidate for a surgical option.
The goal in syringomyelia surgical treatments is to address the underlying cause of the syrinx and get the cerebrospinal fluid flowing properly again. Surgery also aims to help relieve the symptoms and prevent more damage from occurring to your spinal cord.
There are various surgeries your doctor may choose, depending on where the syrinx is located or what the underlying cause is, including:
- Surgery for Chiari malformation. Surgery in these cases involves creating more space at the base of your skull to decrease the pressure on your brain and spinal cord. Creating more space will also restore the healthy flow of cerebrospinal fluid.
- Surgery to remove the blockage or obstruction. With the goal of restoring the flow of cerebrospinal fluid, your surgeon may seek to remove any blockages, like scar tissue or tumors, from your spinal canal. Removing tumors from your spinal cord usually leads to the syrinx collapsing.
- Lumbar laminectomy removes the back part of the spinal bone, or lamina, in your lower back. Enlarging the spinal canal reduces pressure on the spinal cord and nerves.
- Draining the syrinx. It’s also possible to drain the syrinx through surgery, by inserting a draining tube called a shunt into the syrinx, which diverts the fluid around the blockage.
Nonsurgical options
In many cases, patients who are diagnosed with syringomyelia may not have any symptoms or signs of progression. In that case, your doctor may not treat the syringomyelia right away and instead will monitor you over a long period of time to check for any emerging symptoms.
Nonsurgical treatment options for syringomyelia include:
- Monitoring, such as frequent MRIs, neurological exams, and check-ins with your specialist
- Physical therapy
- Avoiding activities that may worsen symptoms or put pressure on your spine, such as heavy lifting
- Maintaining a healthy lifestyle
FAQs
Trust NewYork-Presbyterian for Syringomyelia Treatment
It’s important to be aware of syringomyelia symptoms and to seek care to prevent further progression, and to help you return to your active life. The experts at NewYork-Presbyterian are here to help assess, diagnose, and treat your condition.
When you come to NewYork-Presbyterian for syringomyelia care, you’ll benefit from a team of specialists including neurologists, neurosurgeons, and physical therapists who can create a personalized treatment plan that’s best for you.
Call us to make an appointment and get connected with your care team.