A 66-year-old man was presented with his left leg pain in a sciatic nerve distribution. His initial exam identified left lower extremity weakness, which prompted a MRI of the lumbosacral spine. This test was interpreted as normal, but during the next 2 months, the patient's symptoms progressed to bilateral lower extremity weakness, parasthesia, and urinary & fecal incontinence. A neurosurgeon, evaluated spasticity and hyperreflexia. Sensory testing demonstrated a possible sensory thoracic level.
An MRI (Cover image) of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine revealed a small area of an abnormal T2 hyperintense signal within the spinal cord at the ninth thoracic vertebra. What can be the most likely diagnosis? (Answer is posted in the comment section below!) *This case is from the Docplexus Editorial Team for educative purposes only.
