An autopsied case of the Crow-Fukase syndrome: a neuropathological study with emphasis on spinal roots

Summary An autopsied case of the Crow-Fukase syndrome is reported. Neuropathological findings were as follows: (1) in the sural nerve, there was marked decrease of large and small myelinated fibers. Myelinated fibers showing axonal degeneration and segmental demyelination and remyelination were moderately increased. (2) In the lumbar spinal roots, myelinated fibers showing segmental demyelination and remyelination were frequently observed. The density of myelinated fibers of the ventral root was less at the dural site than the spinal site, while that of the dorsal roots was less at the spinal site than the dural site. (3) In the dorsal root ganglion, there were Nageotte's residual nodules and satellitosis; (4) in the lumbar and thoracic spinal cord, there was pallor of the dorsal column; and (5) nerve cells showing central chromatolysis were frequently observed in the spinal anterior horn cells. Segmental demyelination and remyelination in the spinal roots and loss of myelinated fibers with axonal degeneration in the sural nerve are fibers with axonal degeneration in the sural nerve are main neuropathological features of this syndrome.