Cervical Syringomyelia and Syringomyelia-Like States Associated With Arnold-Chiari Deformity and Platybasia

Compression of the neuraxis at or about the level of the foramen magnum may result in a variety of histopathologic states. In many instances the anatomic picture resembles that of syringomyelia, and in some cases the clinical picture is indistinguishable from that produced by the latter disorder. Platybasia and true syringomyelia may be coexistent pathologic states, and the lack of continued improvement after decompression of the foramen magnum may be due to the primary disease of the spinal cord. From a large source of material, I have chosen cases illustrating a number of conditions seen in the cervical portion of the spinal cord in association with compression of the neuraxis at the foramen magnum. MATERIAL The cases in groups 1 and 2 were those of spina bifida complicated by hydrocephalus, and death resulted from sepsis due to pressure necrosis of the tissues overlying the bifida defect, complicated by leptomeningitis. In