Abnormalities of the Spinal Dura Mater: Are Multiple Clinical Syndromes with Dural Lesions Associated with Abnormal Connective Tissue?

We review several clinical and radiological entities that present with abnormalities of the spinal dura that may be related to each other. These include: the syndrome of spontaneous intracranial hypotension, neuroenteric cysts, spontaneous spinal cord herniation, degenerative disc disease associated with disc clefts or associated with intradural complications, and Hirayama disease. Our observations focus on common imaging findings of dural tears, abnormal peridural fluid and associated degenerative disc disease. We propose that T2 fat sat sequences should be routinely used in spinal imaging protocols to evaluate extradural fluid.