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Intractable hiccups caused by syringobulbia and syringomyelia associated with intramedullary spinal hemangioblastoma

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Abstract

Introduction

Hiccups caused by a neoplasm in the spinal cord are rare.

Materials and methods

We report a case of intractable hiccups caused by syringobulbia and syringomyelia associated with cervical intramedullary spinal hemangioblastoma, which was successfully treated by surgical excision. A 60-year-old man was referred from the neurology department after presenting with hiccups for 1 year. The hiccups were aggravated 3 months ago and were sustained during eating or sleeping. Several doctors administered a muscle relaxant and an anticonvulsant, but they were ineffective. Spinal MRI revealed a huge syringomyelia from C2 to T2, associated with a highly enhancing intramedullary mass lesion at the C5 level. The hiccups were ceased after removal of the tumor through a right hemilaminectomy. The pathology of the specimen was hemangioblastoma. The size of the syringobulbia and syringomyelia decreased markedly on MRI checked 5 months after surgery.

Conclusions

Intractable hiccups can be caused by syringobulbia associated with an intramedullary cord tumor in the cervical area and possible mechanisms of hiccups were reviewed.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Soonchunhyang University Research Fund and approved by the Institutional Review Board with informed consent of the patient.

Conflict of interest

None of the authors has any potential conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, 1174 Jung-1-dong, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon, Gyunggi, 424-767, Republic of Korea

    Je Hoon Jeong, Soo-Bin Im, Dong-Seong Shin, Sun-Chul Hwang & Bum-Tae Kim

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  1. Je Hoon Jeong
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  2. Soo-Bin Im
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  3. Dong-Seong Shin
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Correspondence to Soo-Bin Im.

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Jeong, J.H., Im, SB., Shin, DS. et al. Intractable hiccups caused by syringobulbia and syringomyelia associated with intramedullary spinal hemangioblastoma. Eur Spine J 24 (Suppl 4), 614–618 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-015-3822-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-015-3822-4

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