Diastematomyelia

  • Etiology: part of split notochord syndrome
  • Imaging: bisected spinal cord (85% at thoracic-lumbar spine) with bony spicule or fibrous band inbetween, intersegmental laminar fusion – vertical fusion of lamina
  • Clinical: skin stigmata – Fawn’s tail, hemangioma, pigmentation

Radiology Cases of Diastematomyelia

CT of diastematomyelia
AP radiograph of the spine (left) suggests a linear piece of bone in the center of the spinal canal at the L2-L3 level. Axial CT without contrast of the spine at the L2-L3 level (right) shows the spinal cord and thecal sac are bisected by a boney bridge in the center of the spinal canal. There is also evidence of vertical fusion of the spinal lamina.