Diastematomyelia – A Report of two Cases
RE01-RE02
Correspondence
Dr. Sushil Kachewar,
Professor, Department of Radio-Diagnosis, Rural Medical College, PIMS, At Post-Loni, Ta-Rahata,
Dt-Ahmednagar, Maharashtra-413736, India.
Phone: 9921160357, E-mail: sushilkachewar@hotmail.com
Diastematomyelia means sagittal division of the spinal cord into two hemi cords. It is a congenital malformation which results from an abnormal adhesion between ectoderm and endoderm. It is more common in females (3:1).
This abnormal adhesion which splits the cord may be in the form of fibrous tissue or purely a calcific bar or purely an ossific bar or even a combination of the earlier mentioned entities.
The health impacts of this entity are enormous, as the patients may be asymptomatic to begin with, until gradually; progressive spinal cord dysfunction sets in. Imaging plays a vital role in establishing the diagnosis and it may aid in easing the quality of life by making an early diagnosis.
The affected individual and the afflicted families need psycho-social guidance and counselling. We are presenting here, imaging findings in two cases of diastematomyelia.