DISCOMFORT IN A NEONATE DUE TO A CERVICAL INTRASPINAL ENTEROGENOUS CYST

Background. - Enterogenous cysts are benign embryogenic tumors that de veloped close to the central nervous system. They are rarely symptomat ic in neomates. This report describes such a cysts in a young infant t hat was discovered because of the discomfort it produced. Case report. - A 16 day-old boy suffered from discomfort during bathing followed b y deviation of the eyes. He was given diazepam rectally. At admission, he had generalized hypotonia and hyperreflexia. CSF examination showe d 1.7 g/l protein. A prolonged opnea with cyanosis and bradycardia req uired his admission to the intensive are unit, where a spastic quadrip aresis with bilateral phrenic nerve paralysis was found. EEG and brain ultrasonography were normal. MR imaging showed an intraspinal cyst, l ocating from C1 to C3, that was compressing the spinal cord. The cyst was rapidly excised and histological examination confirmed that it was an enterogenous cyst. Conclusion. - This cyst was not associated asso ciated with vertebral abnormalities but did produce early symptoms. It was diagnosed by MR imaging.