Background: Enterogenous cysts are benign embryogenic tumors that developed close to the central nervous system. They are rarely symptomatic in neonates. This report describes such a cyst in a young infant that was discovered because of the discomfort it produced.
Case report: A 16 day-old boy suffered from discomfort during bathing followed by deviation of the eyes. He was given diazepam rectally. At admission, he had generalized hypotonia and hyperreflexia. CSF examination showed 1.7 g/l protein. A prolonged apnea with cyanosis and bradycardia required his admission to the intensive care unit, where a spastic quadriparesis with bilateral phrenic nerve paralysis was found. EEG and brain ultrasonography were normal. MR imaging showed an intraspinal cyst, locating from C1 to C3, that was compressing the spinal cord. The cyst was rapidly excised and histological examination confirmed that it was an enterogenous cyst.
Conclusion: This cyst was not associated with vertebral abnormalities but did produce early symptoms. It was diagnosed by MR imaging.