INTRADURAL EXTRAMEDULLARY EPENDYMOMA - A CASE-REPORT

Study Design. The present study illustrates a rare case of ependymoma of the spinal cord. Objectives. An encapsulated intradural extramedull ary ependymoma of the cervicothoracic spinal cord in a 24-year-old wom an is reported. Summary of Background Data. Ependymoma is a glial tumo r arising in the central nervous system. Intradural extramedullary epe ndymoma of the spinal cord is rare, and two cases were reported previo usly. Methods. The woman presented with myelopathy below C6. Magnetic resonance imaging showed an intradural tumor from C4 to T3 and no othe r lesion in the central nervous system, At surgery, the extramedullary tumor apparently was not attached to the spinal cord or dura mater. G ross total removal was easily achieved under the operating microscope. Results. Histologic examination revealed the encapsulated tumor as an anaplastic ependymoma. Almost complete neurologic recovery was obtain ed. Conclusion. The encapsulated appearance, lack of an apparent attac hment to the central nervous system, and absence of signs of the prima ry neoplastic process within the brain or spinal cord suggested that t he tumor arose from ectopic ependymal cells.