Intramedullary Clear Cell Ependymoma in the Cervical Spinal Cord: Case Report

Neurosurgery ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 47 (6) ◽  
pp. 1434-1434 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroyoshi Akutsu ◽  
Yasushi Shibata ◽  
Masao Okazaki ◽  
Akio Hyodo ◽  
Akira Matsumura

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE Clear cell ependymoma of the spinal cord has not been reported in the literature, although ependymoma in the cerebral and cerebellar hemispheres has been described. We present the first case report of this rare histological type of ependymoma arising in the cervical spinal cord and emphasize the importance of recognizing this histological entity. CLINICAL PRESENTATION A 42-year-old woman presented with numbness in both upper limbs and spastic gait. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an intramedullary tumor at the C6–T1 level with syringomyelia. INTERVENTION The tumor was totally removed. Histological analysis revealed that the tumor was composed of round cells with perinuclear halos similar to those observed in oligodendroglioma. However, we diagnosed clear cell ependymoma because these tumor cells exhibited epithelial features and ependymal rosettes under light microscopic examination. CONCLUSION Histological diagnosis was crucial to our determining whether to perform postoperative adjuvant therapy in this patient. Neurosurgeons should be aware of the possibility of this histological entity among intramedullary spinal cord tumors.

Neurosurgery ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 47 (6) ◽  
pp. 1434-1434 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroyoshi Akutsu ◽  
Yasushi Shibata ◽  
Masao Okazaki ◽  
Akio Hyodo ◽  
Akira Matsumura

Author(s):  
B.I. Tranmer ◽  
T.A. Gray ◽  
W.J. Horsey ◽  
C.G. Gonsalves

ABSTRACT:A case of subacute progressive spinal tetraparesis had myelographic evidence of cervical spinal cord swelling and a delayed metrizamide computed tomographic myelogram (MCTM) suggested cavitation within the swollen spinal cord. Surgical exploration of the cervical cord revealed inflammatory changes only. No syrinx or intramedullary tumour was found. The accumulation of metrizamide within the spinal cord, as demonstrated by MCTM, did not’respresent a syrinx or a cystic tumour, but more likely an area of inflammation. Because inflammatory myelopathy may simulate an intramedullary tumor or syrinx, careful analysis of all clinical and radiological information is necessary to help make a correct diagnosis.


Neurosurgery ◽  
1979 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
James R. Bean ◽  
John W. Walsh ◽  
Martin H. Blacker

abstract Congenital dermal sinuses in the cervical region are rare. A case report is presented in which the persistent anomaly led to formation of an intramedullary spinal cord abscess. The clinical presentation, radiological diagnosis, and surgical management are discussed.


1983 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
K C Murphy ◽  
R Feld ◽  
W K Evans ◽  
F A Shepherd ◽  
R Perrin ◽  
...  

Four patients with intramedullary spinal cord metastases from small cell carcinoma of the lung (SCCL) are described, with emphasis on clinical presentation and treatment. All patients developed the Brown-Séquard syndrome due to intramedullary tumor in the cervical spinal cord, three within 2 mo after combined modality treatment using chemotherapy and radiotherapy. One patient presented with a Brown-Séquard syndrome and an extradural spinal cord compression from tumor. The radiological and cerebrospinal fluid findings are presented and discussed. Radiation treatment was administered to the involved segments of spinal cord in each patient. All patients responded; two for 3 and 7 mo, two for 3 and 4 wk, respectively. There was significant improvement in the quality of life for three of the four patients.


BMC Neurology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroyuki Mizuno ◽  
Fumiaki Honda ◽  
Hayato Ikota ◽  
Yuhei Yoshimoto

Abstract Background Autonomic dysreflexia (AD) is an abnormal reflex of the autonomic nervous system normally observed in patients with spinal cord injury from the sixth thoracic vertebra and above. AD causes various symptoms including paroxysmal hypertension due to stimulus. Here, we report a case of recurrent AD associated with cervical spinal cord tumor. Case presentation The patient was a 57-year-old man. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an intramedullary lesion in the C2, C6, and high Th12 levels. During the course of treatment, sudden loss of consciousness occurred together with abnormal paroxysmal hypertension, marked facial sweating, left upward conjugate gaze deviation, ankylosis of both upper and lower extremities, and mydriasis. Seizures repeatedly occurred, with symptoms disappearing after approximately 30 min. AD associated with cervical spinal cord tumor was diagnosed. Histological examination by tumor biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of gliofibroma. Radiotherapy was performed targeting the entire brain and spinal cord. The patient died approximately 3 months after treatment was started. Conclusions AD is rarely associated with spinal cord tumor, and this is the first case associated with cervical spinal cord gliofibroma. AD is important to recognize, since immediate and appropriate response is required.


2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (10) ◽  
pp. 690-694 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nozomi Ozawa ◽  
Takahiko Tashiro ◽  
Terue Okamura ◽  
Koichi Koyama ◽  
Kenji Ohata ◽  
...  

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