Dorsal cord syndrome

Dorsal cord syndrome, also known as posterior spinal cord syndrome, is one of the incomplete cord syndromes resulting from pathology affecting the posterior part of the spinal cord, particularly the dorsal columns and potentially (in larger lesions) the lateral corticospinal tracts .

Clinical presentation

The syndrome is clinically characterized by isolated loss of proprioception and vibratory sensation.

Pathology

Numerous entities can result in dorsal cord syndrome, including :

• inflammatory (e.g. multiple sclerosis)
• infective (e.g. tabes dorsalis, HIV-related vacuolar myelopathy)
• ischemia (e.g. posterior spinal artery syndrome)
• mechanical
  • tumor (e.g. spinal metastasis)
  • spondylosis (e.g. compressive myelopathy)
  • collections (e.g. spinal epidural hematoma or spinal epidural abscess)
• metabolic (e.g. subacute combined degeneration of the cord, copper deficiency myeloneuropathy, ​vitamin E deficiency)
• hereditary (e.g. leukoencephalopathy with brainstem and spinal cord involvement and lactate elevation, Friedreich ataxia)