Dissociated sensory loss

Dissociated Sensory Loss

Dissociated sensory loss is a neurological condition characterized by the loss of certain types of sensory modalities while others remain intact. This phenomenon is often associated with specific types of spinal cord lesions or neurological disorders.

Pathophysiology

Dissociated sensory loss typically involves the loss of either pain and temperature sensation or proprioception and vibration sense, but not both. This occurs due to the distinct pathways these sensory modalities take within the central nervous system.

Spinothalamic Tract

The spinothalamic tract is responsible for transmitting pain and temperature sensations. Lesions affecting this tract, such as those seen in syringomyelia, can lead to a loss of these sensations while sparing proprioception and vibration sense.

Dorsal Columns

The dorsal columns carry proprioceptive and vibration information. Damage to these pathways, as seen in conditions like tabes dorsalis, results in the loss of these modalities while pain and temperature sensation remain unaffected.

Clinical Presentation

Patients with dissociated sensory loss may present with a variety of symptoms depending on the underlying cause and location of the lesion. Common presentations include:

• Loss of pain and temperature sensation in a "cape-like" distribution in the case of syringomyelia.
• Preservation of proprioception and vibration sense despite the loss of other sensory modalities.

Causes

Several conditions can lead to dissociated sensory loss, including:

• Syringomyelia
• Brown-S quard syndrome
• Tabes dorsalis
• Multiple sclerosis

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of dissociated sensory loss involves a thorough neurological examination to assess the specific sensory deficits. Imaging studies such as MRI may be used to identify structural lesions in the spinal cord or brain.

Treatment

Treatment of dissociated sensory loss focuses on addressing the underlying cause. For example, surgical intervention may be necessary for syringomyelia, while medical management is used for conditions like multiple sclerosis.

Related Pages

• Sensory system
• Neurology
• Spinal cord

edit 

WikiMD neurology

External links

• Comprehensive information from the National Institute of health.
  

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z