Image report: Extensive disseminated thoracolumbosacral myxopapillary ependymoma

Myxopapillary ependymoma occurs more frequently in adults, but is found in the first two decades of life in around 8-20% of patients. Tumors are usually benign with low likelihood for dissemination.

We describe a case of a 13-year-old boy who presented with progressive kyphosis and bilateral weakness of the lower limbs. MRI shows a thoracolumbosacral intradural tumor with invasion of sacral neural foramina and dissemination to the cervicothoracic region. The patient received T10-L5 laminectomy with subtotal tumor resection. Pathological examination revealed myxopapillary ependymoma. After surgical resection, the patient underwent physical therapy with whole spinal radiotherapy for disease control.

Spinal myxopapillary ependymomas are usually benign and slow-growing tumors. This case illustrates an extensive and disseminated myxopapillary ependymoma.