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Extramedullary Conus Ependymoma Involving a Lumbar Nerve Root with Filum Terminale Attachment. Moriwaki Takashi,Iwatsuki Koichi,Ohnishi Yu-Ichiro,Ninomiya Koshi,Yoshimine Toshiki Clinical medicine insights. Case reports PURPOSE:In the current report, we describe a case of an extramedullary ependymoma involving a lumbar nerve root near conus medullaris. Spinal ependymomas commonly present as intramedullary tumors in the cervical or thoracic cord or as tumors arising from the conus medullaris or the filum terminale. In this case, we showed an extramedullary conus ependymoma involving a lumbar nerve root with filum terminale attachment. CASE PRESENTATION:A 69-year-old woman presented with lower back pain, but without sensory disturbance or motor weakness in her lower extremities. CLINICAL ASSESSMENT:Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an intradural mass at T12-L1 at the conus medullaris, which was totally resected. Histopathology revealed a non-myxopapillary ependymoma (WHO grade 2). Postoperatively, the patient did well and displayed no neurological deficits. Moreover, no radiotherapy was required. CONCLUSIONS:This report documented a rare case of intradural extramedullary ependymoma located at the conus medullaris, involving the lumbar nerve root, and attached to the filum terminale. Although extramedullary ependymomas at this region are more frequently classified as myxopapillary, histopathological examination revealed this tumor as a non-myxopapillary ependymoma. 10.4137/CCRep.S24719
Outcome Analysis in Cases of Spinal Conus Cauda Ependymoma. Balasubramaniam Srikant,Tyagi Devendra K,Desai Ketan I,Dighe Mohnish P Journal of clinical and diagnostic research : JCDR INTRODUCTION:One half of all central nervous system ependymomas, arise within the spinal canal and about 40% of these arise from filum terminale. The myxopapillary variant of spinal ependymoma almost exclusively occurs in the lumbosacral region and they are histologically designated as Grade I. Long term control is best achieved by gross total removal at the initial operation. There is as yet no consensus on the management of incompletely excised tumour. Opinions regarding radiotherapy are controversial and the indications are empirical. AIM:In the present study, we investigated the clinical characteristics and long-term outcomes in patients with conus cauda ependymoma that were managed at our center with baseline comparison of our findings with those reported in literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS:A retrospective analysis of 44 cases of conus cauda ependymoma tumours treated at the Department of Neurosurgery at a tertiary care centre from January 2001 to December 2015 was done. Detailed scrutiny and analysis of the patient's data with respect to the demographic features, clinical findings, investigative procedures, extent of surgical resection, intra and postoperative complications, efficacy of adjuvant therapy, postoperative results and long term follow-up were done. RESULTS:The analysis was done in 44 patients with conus cauda ependymoma over a period of 15 years. The mean age of presentation was 31 years. Incidence of male predominance was noted. Average duration of presenting features was 10 months. Back pain and motor weakness in the lower limbs were the commonest clinical findings. Total excision of the tumour was possible in 89% cases. Myxopapillary ependymoma was the commonest variant. Radiotherapy was only given in patients with near total to subtotal excision of tumour. Back pain and motor weakness improved in majority of patients after surgery. There is limited role of radiotherapy in cases with total tumour excision. CONCLUSION:Conus cauda ependymomas are relatively benign tumours. The long term prognosis is excellent with respect to recurrence and functional outcome in cases with complete tumour excision. Early diagnosis and surgery will prevent occurrence of permanent neurological deficits. Radiotherapy can be given in cases of subtotal excision but there is limited role of radiotherapy in cases with total tumour excision. 10.7860/JCDR/2016/22736.8458
Imaging features of spinal tanycytic ependymoma. Tomek Michal,Jayajothi Anandapadmanabhan,Brandner Sebastian,Jaunmuktane Zane,Lee Cheong Hung,Davagnanam Indran The neuroradiology journal Tanycytic ependymoma is an unusual morphological variant of WHO grade II ependymoma, typically arising from the cervical or thoracic spinal cord. Although the literature deals extensively with pathological features of this tumour entity, imaging features have not been well characterised. The purpose of this study was to review magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of spinal tanycytic ependymomas reported in the literature to date, exemplified by a case of a patient with tanycytic ependymoma of the conus medullaris presenting to our hospital. A Medline search of the English literature for all previously published cases of spinal tanycytic ependymoma was carried out and the reported MRI features reviewed. The tumours were found to be typically well-demarcated masses, predominantly showing isointensity on T1-weighted signal, and T2-weighted hyperintensity, with variable patterns of contrast enhancement. A cystic component was seen in half of the cases, and in a minority a mural nodule was present within the cyst wall. Associated syrinx formation was observed in one-third of the cases and haemorrhage was rare, which may be helpful pointers in differentiating the lesion from other ependymoma subtypes. In conclusion, MRI characteristics of spinal tanycytic ependymoma are variable and non-specific, and radiological diagnosis thus remains challenging, although certain predominant features are identified in this report. Knowledge of these is important in the diagnostic differentiation from other intramedullary and extramedullary spinal tumours in order to guide appropriate surgical management. 10.1177/1971400915621322
Extramedullary tanycytic ependymoma of the lumbar spinal cord. Kim Dong Ja,Han Man-Hoon,Lee SangHan Yeungnam University journal of medicine Tanycytic ependymoma is a rare variant of ependymoma that commonly affects the cervical and thoracic spinal cord. It usually arises as intramedullary lesions, and extramedullary cases are extremely rare. We report a case of a 44-year-old woman who was diagnosed with tanycytic ependymoma in her lumbar spine at level 2-3. The tumor mass developed in an intradural extramedullary location. Histopathologically, tanycytic ependymoma can be misdiagnosed as schwannoma or pilocytic astrocytoma. Immunohistochemical findings such as strong positivity for glial fibrillary acidic protein, perinuclear dot-like positive patterns for epithelial membrane antigen, and focal positivity for S-100 are helpful in diagnosing tanycytic ependymoma. It is important to be aware of this rare tumor to ensure appropriate patient management and accurate prognosis. 10.12701/yujm.2019.00367
Classic type intradural extramedullary ependymoma of the lumbar spine: A new case report of a usual tumour in an unusual location. Raman Vignesh,Iyengar Krishnan R,Alexander Hamish Journal of clinical neuroscience : official journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia Classic type intradural extramedullary (IDEM) ependymomas of the lumbar spine are rare entities. Only two such cases have previously been reported in the literature. Here the authors report a new case and describe radiological, surgical and histological findings as well as review the literature. Unlike previously encountered lumbar IDEM ependymomas, this case was an incidental finding and surgically managed on the grounds of radiological progression over 8 years. 10.1016/j.jocn.2020.06.001
Resection of a large spinal intradural ependymoma using a limited unilateral laminectomy approach in the lumbosacral region. Sasani M,Sasani H,Kaner T,Fahir Ozer A Journal of neurosurgical sciences Ependymomas are the most common gliomas of the lower spinal cord, conus medullaris and filum terminale. Although there are several surgical modalities indicated in the removal of spinal tumors, total laminectomy is the conventional method used. However, surgical complications, such as spinal deformities and instability are more common with this approach compared to limited unilateral hemilaminectomy. To present the clinical and radiologic results of patient with a large spinal intradural ependymoma via a limited posterior unilateral laminectomy approach in the lumbosacral region. The aim of this study was to present a modified duramater incisions and surgical positions setup, and discussed the major controversies in treatment in the literature. This article reports the surgical resection of a lumbosacrally localized ependymoma in a 25-year-old male patient using unilateral laminectomy at the L4 to S3 levels. The tumor was removed with any difficulty in reaching to contralateral side. A follow-up lumbar magnetic resonance imaging scan with and without contrast performed 18 months postoperatively showed no residual or recurrent tumor lesions. This procedure may be more difficult than the conventional total laminectomy as suturing of the duramater. However, modified duramater incisions and setup of microscope-operating table provides best facilitates to surgery manipulation. Besides, unilateral limited laminectomy protected the posterior supporting elements. In order to reduce the postoperative complications and minimize the destruction of tissue, unilateral limited hemilaminectomy is recommended for the removal of intradural tumors. This technique facilitates the return of the patient to ordinary life.
[Spinal Intradural Extramedullary Ependymoma:A Case Report]. Nakagawa Masaya,Hara Takeshi,Iwamuro Hirokazu,Sato Tatsuya,Ohara Yuko,Kobayashi Nozomu,Nojiri Hidetoshi,Okuda Takatoshi,Kaneko Kazuo,Nakajima Madoka,Arai Hajime No shinkei geka. Neurological surgery Ependymoma is the most common primary intramedullary tumor of the spinal cord, accounting for a quarter of these tumors. We experienced a case of 'ependymoma of the spinal cord with a cystic lesion that presented as an intradural extramedullary tumor extending from the thoracic to lumbar vertebrae. In review of past literature on reports of spinal intradural extramedullary ependymoma, lesions spanning three or more vertebrae with cystic lesions were frequent, and about half were World Health Organization grade II or higher. Dissemination or recurrence of these tumors may occur after surgery. There is no consensus on postoperative adjuvant therapy for intradural extramedullary spinal ependymoma, but careful consideration should be given to the intraoperative findings and the characteristics of the tumor. 10.11477/mf.1436204278