Etymed
myelopathy
Definition
A disease or disorder affecting the bone marrow or spinal cord
Clinical context
A 65-year-old patient presents with progressive weakness in both lower extremities and numbness in the toes. On examination, there is decreased sensation to light touch and vibration, with spasticity and hyperreflexia. MRI of the cervical spine reveals a compressive lesion at C5-C6. The patient's symptoms are consistent with a myelopathy affecting the spinal cord. A 45-year-old woman presents with difficulty walking and loss of fine motor coordination in her hands. She has a history of rheumatoid arthritis and reports progressive weakness over several months. Neurological examination shows spasticity, hyperreflexia, and positive Babinski sign. MRI reveals spinal cord involvement with no evidence of nerve root compression.
Mnemonic
Myelopathy = Myel- (spinal cord) + -opathy (disease), remember 'spinal cord disease' with myel- prefix