Cauda Equina Syndrome and Dural Ectasia: Rare Manifestations in Chronic Ankylosing Spondylitis

Overview

Journal Br J Radiol

Publisher Oxford University Press

Specialty Radiology

Date 2011 May 25

PMID 21606066

Citations 11

Authors

C-C Liu

Y-C Lin

C-P Lo

T-P Chang

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Cauda equina syndrome (CES) is a rare manifestation in patients with long-standing ankylosing spondylitis (AS). We report a 57-year-old male patient with a 30-year history of AS who developed CES in the past 4 years. The CT and MRI examinations showed unique appearances of dural ectasia, multiple dorsal dural diverticula, erosion of the vertebral posterior elements, tethering of the conus medullaris to the dorsal aspect of the spinal canal and adhesion of the nerve roots of the cauda equina to the wall of the dural sac. A large dural defect was found at surgery. De-adhesion of the tethered conus medullaris was performed but without significant clinical improvement. The possible aetiologies of CES and dural ectasia in patients with chronic AS are discussed and the literature is reviewed.

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