Coexisting intramedullary schwannoma with an ependymal cyst of the conus medullaris: A case report

Yang,Tao; Wu,Liang; Yang,Chenlong; Deng,Xiaofeng; Xu,Yulun

doi:10.3892/ol.2014.2786

Coexisting intramedullary schwannoma with an ependymal cyst of the conus medullaris: A case report

Authors:
- Tao Yang
- Liang Wu
- Chenlong Yang
- Xiaofeng Deng
- Yulun Xu
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Affiliations: Department of Neurosurgery, China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, P.R. China
Published online on: December 10, 2014 https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2014.2786
Pages: 903-906

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Abstract

Synchronous spinal intramedullary ependymal cysts and intramedullary schwannomas are rare. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first report of a case of intramedullary schwannoma coexisting with an ependymal cyst. A 35‑year‑old male presented with lower back pain and weakness in the left leg. Magnetic resonance imaging identified an intramedullary cystic‑solid lesion at the thoracolumbar junction of T11‑L2; based on the clinical presentation and radiological features, a pre‑operative diagnosis of ependymoma was formed. Subsequently, the patient underwent a T11‑12 laminectomy via a posterior approach, with intraoperative monitoring of somatosensory and motor‑evoked potentials, achieving a gross total resection of the tumor with a well‑demarcated dissection plane. Post‑operative histopathological examination demonstrated a schwannoma coexisting with the ependymal cyst, and the neurological status of the patient markedly improved compared with the pre‑operatively observed neurological deﬁcit.

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