Intramedullary glioependymal cyst and tethered cord in an infant
C Balasubramaniam1, V Balasubramaniam, V Santosh
1CHILDS Trust Hospital, Nungambakkam, Chennai, India. chidu@vsnl.com
Insights
This study reports a rare case of an infant with an intramedullary glioependymal cyst and a filar lipoma, highlighting the rarity of such congenital spinal cord anomalies.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Pediatric Neurosurgery
Background:
- Intramedullary glioependymal cysts are uncommon congenital spinal cord malformations.
- The co-occurrence of these cysts with other congenital anomalies, such as tethered cord syndrome, is exceptionally rare.
Observation:
- A rare case of an infant presenting with an intramedullary glioependymal cyst and a filar lipoma is detailed.
- The clinical presentation, diagnostic criteria, and pathogenesis of these rare spinal lesions are discussed.
Findings:
- The case underscores the infrequent association between intramedullary glioependymal cysts and other congenital spinal anomalies.
- Current understanding suggests some spinal cysts may originate from endodermal tissues rather than glioependymal cells.
Implications:
- This case contributes to the limited literature on combined congenital spinal cord lesions.
- Further research into the developmental origins and diagnostic criteria for spinal cysts is warranted.
Introduction:
Intramedullary glioependymal cysts are rare congenital lesions of the spinal cord. Their association with another congenital lesion, i.e., tethered cord, is rarer still.
Results And Discussion:
We present a case of intramedullary glioependymal cyst with a filar lipoma in an infant. The clinical features, terminology and pathogenesis are discussed. Many varieties of spinal cysts have been described. It is now believed that simple ciliated or goblet-containing intracranial and intraspinal cysts are endodermal rather than glioependymal in origin. The diagnostic criteria, too, have been defined. Although many of these lesions are developmental in origin their association with other congenital anomalies is rare.
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