Intramedullary spinal teratoma presenting with urinary retention: Case report and review of the literature

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: Intramedullary tumors affect a small but signific ant segment of patients with spinal cord tumors. Intramedullary teratomas a re rare entities that are usually located in the sacrococcygeal region. Alt hough some reports claim that diagnostic studies can exactly predict the na ture of intramedullary tumors, this case report demonstrates the lack of pr eoperative diagnostic specificity. Therefore, the aim of surgery should be radical extirpation whenever possible. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A case report of a thoracolumbar intramedullary tera toma is presented. This young male patient displayed urinary retention and motor deficits. Computed tomographic and magnetic resonance imaging examina tion revealed an intramedullary tumor; however, the exact nature of the tum or could not be determined preoperatively. The literature concerning these tumors is extensively reviewed. INTERVENTION: During surgery, a multicystic tumor was found at the base of the filum terminale, which was resected as far as possible. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that surgery should be the first choice for tre atment. More aggressive teratomas are found in intramedullary locations, es pecially in children, emphasizing the importance of radical tumor resection . The use of adjuvant chemo- or radiotherapy should be explicitly substanti ated for the nonbenign teratoma group.