Cervicothoracic nonterminal myelocystocele with mature teratoma

J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2014 Feb;13(2):204-8. doi: 10.3171/2013.12.PEDS13408. Epub 2013 Dec 20.

Abstract

Nonterminal myelocystocele is a rare type of spinal dysraphism characterized by a closed defect with an underlying CSF-filled cyst, either contiguous with the central spinal canal or attached to the spinal cord by a fibrovascular stalk. The authors report the unusual case of a neonate with a prenatal diagnosis of cervicothoracic nonterminal myelocystocele who underwent postnatal surgical untethering of the lesion. Pathological analysis of the excised lesion revealed neuroglial tissue with an ependymal lining associated with a mature teratoma. Three months after surgery, the patient has normal lower-extremity sensorimotor function and no evidence of bowel or bladder dysfunction. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of a patient with a nonterminal myelocystocele found to have an associated mature teratoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Cervical Vertebrae
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Lower Extremity / physiopathology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Meningomyelocele / complications
  • Meningomyelocele / diagnosis*
  • Meningomyelocele / pathology
  • Meningomyelocele / surgery*
  • Prenatal Diagnosis
  • Recovery of Function
  • Spina Bifida Cystica / complications
  • Spina Bifida Cystica / diagnosis*
  • Spina Bifida Cystica / pathology
  • Spina Bifida Cystica / surgery*
  • Spinal Cord Neoplasms / complications
  • Spinal Cord Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Spinal Cord Neoplasms / pathology
  • Spinal Cord Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Teratoma / complications
  • Teratoma / diagnosis*
  • Teratoma / pathology
  • Teratoma / surgery*
  • Thoracic Vertebrae
  • Treatment Outcome