Missed Diagnosis of Syrinx

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, controlled human study. PURPOSE: We checked the proportion of missed syrinx diagnoses among the examinees of the Korean military conscription. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: A syrinx is a fluid-filled cavity within the spinal cord or brain stem and causes various neurological symptoms. A syrinx could easily be diagnosed by magnetic resonance image (MRI), but missed diagnoses seldom occur. METHODS: In this study, we reviewed 103 cases using cervical images, cervical MRI, or whole spine sagittal MRI, and syrinxes was observed in 18 of these cases. A review of medical certificates or interviews was conducted, and the proportion of syrinx diagnoses was calculated. RESULTS: The proportion of syrinx diagnoses was about 66.7% (12 cases among 18). Missed diagnoses were not the result of the length of the syrinx, but due to the type of image used for the initial diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: The missed diagnosis proportion of the syrinx is relatively high, therefore, a more careful imaging review is recommended.