Asian Spine J.  2012 Mar;6(1):1-5. 10.4184/asj.2012.6.1.1.

Missed Diagnosis of Syrinx

• Oh CH
• Kim CG
• Lee JH
• Yoon SH
• Park HC
• Park CO

• KMID: 2270469
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4184/asj.2012.6.1.1

Abstract

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, controlled human study. PURPOSE: We checked the proportion of missed syrinx diagnoses among the examinees of the Korean military conscription. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: A syrinx is a fluid-filled cavity within the spinal cord or brain stem and causes various neurological symptoms. A syrinx could easily be diagnosed by magnetic resonance image (MRI), but missed diagnoses seldom occur.
METHODS
In this study, we reviewed 103 cases using cervical images, cervical MRI, or whole spine sagittal MRI, and syrinxes was observed in 18 of these cases. A review of medical certificates or interviews was conducted, and the proportion of syrinx diagnoses was calculated.
RESULTS
The proportion of syrinx diagnoses was about 66.7% (12 cases among 18). Missed diagnoses were not the result of the length of the syrinx, but due to the type of image used for the initial diagnosis.
CONCLUSIONS
The missed diagnosis proportion of the syrinx is relatively high, therefore, a more careful imaging review is recommended.

Keyword

Syrinx; Diagnosis proportion; Conscription; Korea

MeSH Terms

Brain Stem
Humans
Korea
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Military Personnel
Prospective Studies
Spinal Cord
Spine