The Epiconus Syndrome Presenting Radicular Type Neurological Features : A Report of Seven Cases

Abstract

We reported 7 patients with an epiconus syndrome presenting with radicular type neurological features. The patients, six men and one women, ranged in age from 45 to 80 years. The causes of epiconus syndrome were ossification of the ligamentum flavum, thoracic disc herniation, spinal cord tumor, spine tumor, and spine injuries. All patients had radicular type sensory disturbance with out radicular pain. Five patients had lower extremity muscle atrophy which seemed to be lumbar radiculopathy. Absence of lower extremity deep tendon reflexes were found in 4 patients, and Babinski reflex was found in 2 patients.
The level of epiconus compromise detected on MRI ranged from the T11—12 intervertebral disc level to T12-L1 disc level. The presence of atypical neurological features related to epiconus compromise should be carefully diagnosed with reference to the anatomical relationships between the level of compromise and termination of the spinal cord.