Neuro-Cranio-Vertebral Syndrome

Last update: 20/05/2022, Dr. Miguel B. Royo Salvador, Medical Board number 10389. Neurosurgeon y Neurologist.
 

Neuro-Cranio-Vertebral Syndrome (NCV.S) is defined as the set of clinical manifestations, symptoms and signs that affect the entire nervous system, including the brain, brainstem, spinal cord, skull and spine. These manifestations are a result of abnormal traction of the spinal cord caused by an apparently normal Filum Terminale.

When this spinal cord traction is caused by an undetectable congenital anomaly of the Filum Terminale, we define it as the Filum disease. So, Filum Disease is NCV.S caused by an abnormal Filum Termniale.

However, this traction force can be caused by some other reasons such as by a tumour, trauma or several other causes that can deform the spinal canal and affect the mechanical relationship between the spinal canal / spinal cord and the Filum Terminale. In this case, it is known as acquired NCV.S.

NCV.S might clinically express itself in the form of one or several known diseases, which were, until now, considered to be idiopathic and apparently unrelated. These diseases were described at different points of time in the course of the history of Medical Science and were attributed to very different possible causes. These pathologies are included in the concept of the Filum Disease.