Syringobulbia is a medical condition in which syrinxes, or fluid-filled cavities, affect the brainstem (usually the lower brainstem). The exact cause is often unknown, but may be linked to a widening of the

central canal The central canal (also known as spinal foramen or ependymal canal) is the cerebrospinal fluid-filled space that runs through the spinal cord. The central canal lies below and is connected to the ventricular system of the brain, from which it r ...

of the

spinal cord The spinal cord is a long, thin, tubular structure made up of nervous tissue, which extends from the medulla oblongata in the brainstem to the lumbar region of the vertebral column (backbone). The backbone encloses the central canal of the sp ...

. This may affect one or more

cranial nerves Cranial nerves are the nerves that emerge directly from the brain (including the brainstem), of which there are conventionally considered twelve pairs. Cranial nerves relay information between the brain and parts of the body, primarily to and f ...

, resulting in various kinds of facial palsies. Sensory and motor nerve pathways may be affected by interruption or compression of nerves. This disorder is associated with

syringomyelia Syringomyelia is a generic term referring to a disorder in which a cyst or cavity forms within the spinal cord. Often, syringomyelia is used as a generic term before an etiology is determined. This cyst, called a syrinx, can expand and elongate o ...

, a syrinx limited to the spinal cord. It can be diagnosed using magnetic resonance imaging. Symptoms may be treated with

tricyclic antidepressants Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are a class of medications that are used primarily as antidepressants, which is important for the management of depression. They are second-line drugs next to SSRIs. TCAs were discovered in the early 1950s and wer ...

Signs and symptoms

Syringobulbia usually causes pain. It may also cause a loss of sense of

temperature Temperature is a physical quantity that expresses quantitatively the perceptions of hotness and coldness. Temperature is measurement, measured with a thermometer. Thermometers are calibrated in various Conversion of units of temperature, temp ...

. Alveolar hypoventilation (insufficient breathing, a type of central hypoventilation syndrome) may occur, with

hypercapnia Hypercapnia (from the Greek ''hyper'' = "above" or "too much" and ''kapnos'' = "smoke"), also known as hypercarbia and CO2 retention, is a condition of abnormally elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the blood. Carbon dioxide is a gaseous pro ...

(excess blood CO₂), stridor (an unusual breathing sound), and irregular breathing.

Cause

Syringobulbia may be caused by a

birth defect A birth defect, also known as a congenital disorder, is an abnormal condition that is present at birth regardless of its cause. Birth defects may result in disabilities that may be physical, intellectual, or developmental. The disabilities ca ...

trauma Trauma most often refers to: * Major trauma, in physical medicine, severe physical injury caused by an external source * Psychological trauma, a type of damage to the psyche that occurs as a result of a severely distressing event *Traumatic i ...

tumor A neoplasm () is a type of abnormal and excessive growth of tissue. The process that occurs to form or produce a neoplasm is called neoplasia. The growth of a neoplasm is uncoordinated with that of the normal surrounding tissue, and persists ...

growth. The exact trigger is unknown, but may be linked to a widening of the

of the

Mechanism

Syringobulbia affects the lower part of the brainstem. The

of the

may be widened. A fluid-filled lesion forms, known as a syrinx. This can vary in size significantly between patients. Nerve fibres may be compressed where they cross the midline, or in other parts of the spinal cord.

Cranial nerves Cranial nerves are the nerves that emerge directly from the brain (including the brainstem), of which there are conventionally considered twelve pairs. Cranial nerves relay information between the brain and parts of the body, primarily to and f ...

may be affected. Syringobulbia may be associated with

, a syrinx limited to the spinal cord.

Diagnosis

Syringobulbia may be diagnosed using magnetic resonance imaging.

Treatment

The pain caused by syringobulbia may be treated with

References

External links

* {{CNS diseases of the nervous system Gross pathology Spinal cord disorders

Signs and symptoms

Cause

Mechanism

Diagnosis

Treatment

See also

References

External links