ECTOPIC INTRASPINAL EXTRADURAL ANAPLASIC EPENDYMOMA IN AN INFANT

Background. - Ependymomas represent about 10 % of the spinal rumors in children. Some of them may be unusually located. Case report. - A 10- month-old boy was admitted for an abdominal mass syndrome with dehydra tation, asthenia and acute bladder dysfunction. A few hours later he d eveloped a flaccid paraplegia. Ultrasonic and magnetic resonance spina l imaging showed a giant intraspinal tumor extending from T9 to L4 lev el, posteriorly located to the dural compartment, widening the spinal cord. Ultrasonography also showed right ureterohydronephrosis due to t he neurological bladder dysfunction. A conservative laminotomy-laminop lasty was performed in emergency. Total removal of the tumor that was attached to the right dorsal root was achieved extradurally, requiring resection of the proximal part of the root. Histological features wer e typical of malignant ependymoma. Chemotherapy was initiated 2 weeks later. The severe renal destruction and the persistant bladder dysfunc tion led to a heminephrectomy and a cystostomy, 3 weeks later. The neu rological recovery was only partial with a follow-up of 18 months. Con clusion. - Ectopic intraspinal extradural localization of ependymomas is rare and their development from a nerve root is exceptional.