General Medical Information

Syringobulbia

Frank E. Lucente
Samir Shah
Roger Kula

Syringobulbia is a progressive, degenerative disease that involves cavitation of central parts of the cervical spinal cord (syringomyelia). It extends superiorly into the medulla oblongata and pons and into the area of the descending tract of the trigeminal nerve or other nuclei of bulbar structures. Signs are analgesia and thermoanesthesia of the face, atrophy and weakness of the tongue, palatal paralysis, and vocal cord paralysis. There is usually shoulder and upper extremity involvement. Arnold-Chiari type I malformation is frequently associated. This malformation by itself even without syrinx formation can cause Menière-like auditory and vestibular symptoms.