[Subarachnoid hemorrhage due to conus medullaris ependymoma]

A case of conus medullaris tumour (ependymoma) is reported in which the presenting symptom was subarachnoid haemorrhage, which has left bladder dysfunction. 70-year-old patient was admitted to the Department of Neurology due to symptoms of conus medullaris lesion with retention of urine and diminished pain sensitivity in perianal zona. He had been hospitalized 30 years ago due to vomiting, headache and pain in lumbar region. The cerebrospinal fluid examination confirmed the diagnosis of subarachnoid haemorrhage. Cerebral angiography failed to show the source of bleeding. Myelography and spinal arteriography showed nor tumour neither vascular malformation. Only MRI examination performed after 30 years following the first symptoms of tumour made possible the correct diagnosis--tumour in vertebral canal at L1-L2 level compressing conus medullaris. Surgical procedure confirmed the diagnosis. Histopathological examination--ependymoma myxopapillare.