Myelopathy after intrathecal chemotherapy. A case report with unique magnetic resonance imaging changes

Abstract

Background. Paraplegia caused by intrathecal chemotherapy has no known pathognomonic features and is a diagnosis of exclusion. Methods. The authors reported the clinical and neuroimaging findings in one patient with this syndrome. Results. The patient had severe paraplegia with urinary retention and impaired pain and touch sensation below T‐10 with sparing of proprioception and vibration sense. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan showed diminished intensity throughout the central cervical spinal cord. Post‐gadopentetate dimeglumine enhancement was scattered throughout the cervical spinal cord and in two areas of the dorsal spinal cord. Axial views of the cervical spinal cord showed that this enhancement was limited to the lateral columns. Conclusions. The MRI in myelopathy due to intrathecal chemotherapy may show a unique pattern of post‐gadopentetate dimeglumine enhancement limited to the lateral columns of the spinal cord. However, two recently encountered patients with the same syndrome did not show similar changes. Cancer 1994; 73:3037–40. Copyright © 1994 American Cancer Society