Chapter 191: Spinal Cord Diseases
To view the entire topic, please log in or purchase a subscription.
Harrison’s Manual of Medicine 20th edition provides 600+ internal medicine topics in a rapid-access format. Download Harrison’s App to iPhone, iPad, and Android smartphone and tablet. Explore these free sample topics:
-- The first section of this topic is shown below --
Spinal cord disorders can be devastating, but many are treatable if recognized early (Table 191-1). Knowledge of relevant spinal cord anatomy is often the key to correct diagnosis (Fig. 191-1).
Compressive |
Epidural, intradural, or intramedullary neoplasm |
Epidural abscess |
Epidural hemorrhage |
Cervical spondylosis |
Herniated disk |
Posttraumatic compression by fractured or displaced vertebra or hemorrhage |
Vascular |
Arteriovenous malformation and dural fistula |
Antiphospholipid syndrome and other hypercoagulable states |
Inflammatory |
Multiple sclerosis |
Neuromyelitis optica |
Transverse myelitis |
Sarcoidosis |
Sjögren-related myelopathy |
Systemic lupus erythematosus-related myelopathy |
Vasculitis |
Infectious |
Viral: VZV, HSV-1 and 2, CMV, HIV, HTLV-1, others |
Bacterial and mycobacterial: Borrelia, Listeria, syphilis, others |
Mycoplasma pneumoniae |
Parasitic: schistosomiasis, toxoplasmosis, cystercercosis |
Developmental |
Syringomyelia |
Meningomyelocele |
Tethered cord syndrome |
Metabolic |
Vitamin B12 deficiency (subacute combined degeneration) |
Copper deficiency |
Transverse section through the spinal cord, composite representation, illustrating the principal ascending (left) and descending (right) pathways. The lateral and ventral spinothalamic tracts ascend contralateral to the side of the body that is innervated. C, cervical; D, distal; E, extensors; F, flexors; L, lumbar; P, proximal; S, sacral; T, thoracic.
-- To view the remaining sections of this topic, please log in or purchase a subscription --
Spinal cord disorders can be devastating, but many are treatable if recognized early (Table 191-1). Knowledge of relevant spinal cord anatomy is often the key to correct diagnosis (Fig. 191-1).
Compressive |
Epidural, intradural, or intramedullary neoplasm |
Epidural abscess |
Epidural hemorrhage |
Cervical spondylosis |
Herniated disk |
Posttraumatic compression by fractured or displaced vertebra or hemorrhage |
Vascular |
Arteriovenous malformation and dural fistula |
Antiphospholipid syndrome and other hypercoagulable states |
Inflammatory |
Multiple sclerosis |
Neuromyelitis optica |
Transverse myelitis |
Sarcoidosis |
Sjögren-related myelopathy |
Systemic lupus erythematosus-related myelopathy |
Vasculitis |
Infectious |
Viral: VZV, HSV-1 and 2, CMV, HIV, HTLV-1, others |
Bacterial and mycobacterial: Borrelia, Listeria, syphilis, others |
Mycoplasma pneumoniae |
Parasitic: schistosomiasis, toxoplasmosis, cystercercosis |
Developmental |
Syringomyelia |
Meningomyelocele |
Tethered cord syndrome |
Metabolic |
Vitamin B12 deficiency (subacute combined degeneration) |
Copper deficiency |
Transverse section through the spinal cord, composite representation, illustrating the principal ascending (left) and descending (right) pathways. The lateral and ventral spinothalamic tracts ascend contralateral to the side of the body that is innervated. C, cervical; D, distal; E, extensors; F, flexors; L, lumbar; P, proximal; S, sacral; T, thoracic.
There's more to see -- the rest of this entry is available only to subscribers.