Spinal cord and brain stem anomalies in scoliosis. MR screening of 26 cases.

The spinal cord and brain were examined with magnetic resonance (MR) in 26 patients with idiopathic scoliosis to study the prevalence of spinal cord and brainstem anomalies. Two patients had small centrally located spinal cord syrinxes, one at C6-C8 and the other at T6-T8, without association with any brainstem or cerebellar deformity. The lowest position of the cerebellar tonsils was 0.5 cm below the foramen magnum, which was also seen in 2 other patients. Scoliosis associated with syringomyelia may be more common than previously thought, and may be wrongly classified as idiopathic. A neurogenic cause of scoliosis should always be considered, and at least in atypical cases be excluded by MR imaging of the spinal cord. MR should be mandatory before bracing or operative correction of scoliosis.