American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) Practice Exam

Which feature is not typically associated with syringomyelia?

1. Spasticity

2. Muscular atrophy

3. Fasciculations

4. Loss of temperature and pain sensation

The correct answer is: Spasticity

Syringomyelia is a disorder characterized by the formation of a cyst, or syrinx, within the spinal cord, which can lead to a variety of neurological symptoms. The primary features commonly associated with this condition arise from the disruption of pain and temperature sensations as well as motor function due to impacts on the spinal cord and the surrounding neural tissue. Loss of temperature and pain sensation is a hallmark feature of syringomyelia, often due to the interruption of ascending sensory pathways in the spinal cord. This leads to a "cape-like" distribution of sensory loss, which is classically seen in patients. Muscular atrophy can occur due to the denervation of muscles as a result of lower motor neuron involvement, which might be affected by the expansion of the cyst putting pressure on anterior horn cells where motor neurons reside. Fasciculations, or involuntary muscle contractions, may also arise in the later stages of the disease as a result of motor neuron degradation or motor pathway disruption. Spasticity, which refers to increased muscle tone due to upper motor neuron lesions, is generally not a primary feature of syringomyelia. While patients may experience weakness and changes in muscle tone, spasticity itself is more closely related to conditions affecting the motor