Some little-known aspects of spinal cord softening

MRI of syphilitic myelitis

MR imaging was performed on a patient with syphilitic myelitis. T2-weighted images showed high intensity areas in the thoracic spinal cord. On T1-weighted images after gadolinium-DTPA injection, heterogeneous enhancement was observed in the superficial portion of the spinal cord. The intramedullary high intensity areas on T2-weighted images disappeared after antibiotic therapy.

Spinal cord softenings of identifiable cause: anatomical and clinical features

To complete our bibliographic review of spinal cord softenings, we now discuss the clinical and pathological findings in the cases of known or probable cause. Comparison of the diagnostic groups yields some differences in respect of sex, age and mode of onset, survival and extent of the anatomical lesion. Further differences, especially in age at onset, clinical pattern and lesion site, emerge from a comparison of these cases of known or probable cause with those whose cause is not apparent.