Foix-Alajouanine syndrome mimicking a spinal cord tumor

• Main Authors: Renan Salomão, Nathalie Henriques Silva Canêdo, Guilherme P. Abrão, Carlos Lima, Marcus André Acioly
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Associação Médica Brasileira
• Series: Revista da Associação Médica Brasileira
• Subjects: fístula arteriovenosa espinal dural; síndrome de Foix-Alajouanine; tumor de medula espinal; mielopatia necrotizante subaguda
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0104-42302017000700564&lng=en&tlng=en
• ISSN: 1806-9282

Summary Subacute necrotizing myelopathy (SNM) or Foix-Alajouanine syndrome is a rare disease characterized by progressive neurological dysfunction caused by a spinal dural arteriovenous fistula (AVF). Radiological diagnosis is usually suspected when there is intramedullary nonspecific enhancement and perimedullary flow voids. Ring-enhancement is rarely reported in the scope of AVF, which poses a diagnostic challenge and raises the suspicion of a spinal cord tumor. In such situations, biopsy can be required and delay proper diagnosis. We report the case of a patient with SNM, who underwent biopsy on the assumption of it being a spinal cord tumor.