Spine imaging: syringomyelia: practice question

A Radiology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Radiology · Spine imaging: syringomyelia

Sample item

A patient has loss of pain and temperature in a cape distribution and wasting of the hands. MRI shows a long CSF-intensity cavity within the cervical cord. What condition is associated most commonly?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Chiari I malformation

Syringomyelia is a fluid-filled cavity in the cord, commonly associated with a Chiari I malformation, trauma or tumours. The cape-like dissociated sensory loss reflects damage to crossing spinothalamic fibres. MRI of the whole neuraxis excludes an underlying tumour.

Option by option

  • A. Chiari I malformation (correct)

    Correct. Chiari I is the commonest associated cause.

  • B. Multiple sclerosis

    MS causes plaques, not a long cavity.

  • C. Guillain-Barre syndrome

    GBS is a peripheral neuropathy.

  • D. Cervical spondylosis only

    Spondylosis causes myelopathy but not a syrinx.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Radiology question

What is the answer to this Radiology question?

The best answer is A, Chiari I malformation. Syringomyelia is a fluid-filled cavity in the cord, commonly associated with a Chiari I malformation, trauma or tumours.

Why is "Multiple sclerosis" not the answer?

MS causes plaques, not a long cavity.

Why is "Guillain-Barre syndrome" not the answer?

GBS is a peripheral neuropathy.

Why is "Cervical spondylosis only" not the answer?

Spondylosis causes myelopathy but not a syrinx.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Spine imaging: syringomyelia in Radiology. The cape-like dissociated sensory loss reflects damage to crossing spinothalamic fibres. MRI of the whole neuraxis excludes an underlying tumour.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Spine imaging: syringomyelia?

Learn signs with the image, and the disease they point to. Then use the flashcards and the other Radiology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.