Clinico-morphological correlation in syringomyelia: a statistical study assisted by computer measurement of magnetic resonance images.

Abstract

A computer-assisted measurement of synrinxes was performed on MR images in a series of 26 patients with syringomyelia-Chiari complex. Syrinx data such as length, surface area, contour, and greater diameter were statistically correlated to each other and with the main clinical symptomatology of the patients. In general, a direct relationship between the various measurements of the syrinxes exists. Nevertheless, although a slight relationship could be established between the presence of muscular atrophy and a greater length and contour of the syrinxes, the present study suggests that the evaluation of syrinx dimensions cannot be brought into relation with the nature or distribution of clinical symptomatology. Because a reduction in the syrinx is generally the aim of surgery, this conclusion should be born in mind when a surgical treatment is offered to syringomyelic patients.