Wise Young
04-13-2003, 04:38 PM
• Peregrino AJ, Puglia PM, Bacheschi LA, Hirata MT, Brotto MW, Nobrega JP and Scaff M (2002). [Diagnosis of schistosomiasis of the spinal cord: contribution of magnetic resonance imaging and electroneuromyography]. Arq Neuropsiquiatr 60:597-602. Summary: OBJECTIVE: To analyze the usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging MRI and electroneuromyography (ENMG) in the diagnosis of schistosomiasis of the spinal cord (SSC). METHOD: 18 MRI of the thoracolumbar spine and 24 ENMG of the upper and lower limbs were carried out on patients with a definite diagnosis of SSC in the clinical forms of myeloradiculitis or thoracic transverse myelitis. RESULTS: Of the 18 MRI carried out, 16 (88.8%) showed abnormalities on T1 and T2 weighted images and heterogenous pattern of enhancement with contrast material injection. Of the 24 ENMG, 23 (95.8%) showed a feature of bilateral multiradiculopathy of roots L2, L3, L4, L5, S1, S2, asymmetric in 10 cases (41.6%), characterized by signs of denervation in the lumbar paraspinal musculature and long duration polyphasic potentials in increased proportion, as well decrease of the recruitment of motor units. CONCLUSION: In spite of the non-specificity of both exams, the MRI and the ENMG showed to be useful for the diagnosis of SSC, by revealing abnormalities that repeated in 88.8% and 95.8% of the cases, respectively. Divisao de Neurologia, Hospital das Clinicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brasil. peregrino@nanet.com.br