Intramedullary subependymoma of the cervical spinal cord: case report

The third case of intramedullary subependymoma of the cervical spinal cord is reported. This is the first such case for which intraoperative views are available. It was possible to remove most of this lesion with the aid of the operating microscope, the carbon dioxide laser, and the use of somatosensory evoked potentials. The diagnosis was clouded by the coexistence of Holmes-Adie pupils and absent reflexes in the lower extremities. All three reported intramedullary subependymomas have been found in the cervical spinal cord of middle-aged patients. Tumors in this clinical setting should not be assumed to be unresectable astrocytomas without careful histopathological and intraoperative evaluation.