Vitamin B12 defiiency causes haematological, gastrointestinal, psychiatric and neurological diseases. Subacute combined degeneration (SCD) of the spinal cord, characterised by degeneration of the lateral and posterior columns, is often... more
Vitamin B12 defiiency causes haematological, gastrointestinal, psychiatric and neurological diseases. Subacute combined degeneration (SCD) of the spinal cord, characterised by degeneration of the lateral and posterior columns, is often found due to vitamin B12 defiiency. We report SCD occurring in a 57-year-old man who presented with a 2.5–month history of gradually progressing tingling in the figers and toes and neck ache. Laboratory data revealed vitamin B12 defiiency and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the cervical spinal cord demonstrated abnormal hyperintense signal changes on T2- weighted imaging of the posterior columns. In our case, follow-up MR imaging fidings correlated well with clinical outcome after treatment with vitamin B12 supplements. Neurological symptoms in vitamin B12 defiiency are frequent. Early spinal MR imaging assists in the early diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
