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Adult presentation of spinal dysraphism and tandem diastematomyelia
Paul Porensky1, Kenji Muro, Aruna Ganju
1Department of Neurological Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 244 E. Pearson St. #1705, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA. p-poresnky@md.northwestern.edu
Background Context:
Diastematomyelia is a split-cord malformation often accompanied by other cord or column anomalies.
Purpose:
To report on an adult patient with diastematomyelia and discuss the embryological basis and related developmental sequelae of this split-cord malformation.
Study Design:
Case report.
Methods:
A summary of the management of a 54-year-old woman with recent clinical symptomatology related to an undiagnosed split-cord malformation is presented with accompanying literature review.
Results:
A rare adult presentation of diastematomyelia with accompanying intradural extramedullary epidermoid tumor was repaired with resection of the soft-tissue mass and excision of the fibro-osseous septum.
Conclusion:
Initial presentation of diastematomyelia is rarely seen in adults; accompanying pathology includes scoliosis, tethered cord, and intradural tumors. Effective treatment involves identification of the primary pathology.
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