Subacute combined degeneration (SCD) is a treatable
myelopathy known complication of vitamin B12 (cobalamin)
deficiency.
1
Cobalamin is essential for synthesis and maintenance
of the myelin sheath. Several previous studies have
demonstrated cobalamin deficiency causes white matter lesions
or defective myelination in the nervous system.
2
It usually
affects the posterior and lateral columns of spinal cord.
So far, no large-scale studies of anterior column involving
SCD have been reported. There are only a few cases that
have been reported. We reported two patients with SCD
whose lesion involved bilateral anterior columns and reviewed
previous studies.