Vascular mimic of longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis
A right-handed woman in her sixties reported progressive ascending sensory disturbance over 5 months, initially affecting both feet before extending to the thighs; subsequently she had worsening lower limb heaviness, gait impairment and sphincter dysfunction. Her legs did 'not feel like my own'. There was also reduced awareness of bladder and bowel filling, urinary hesitancy and constipation. In retrospect, an ankle fracture following a fall 5 months earlier may have represented the earliest manifestation. She had a history of breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, surgery achieving complete pathological response and adjuvant radiotherapy. Her initial neurological symptoms had been attributed to chemotherapy-related imbalance and deconditioning. She worked as a librarian. On examination, she had a T11 sensory level, symmetrically brisk lower limb reflexes, Medical Research Council grade 4/5 weakness of bilateral hip flexion and extension with preserved distal strength and impaired vibration sensation to the knees.
MR scan of spine with...
Source: Practical Neurology - Online First Published 06 Nov 2026 Imported 06 Nov 2026 Relevancy: Not reviewed
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