Intramedullary and Extramedullary Cervical Neurenteric Cyst Requiring Fixation and Fusion

Document Type

Article

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Spinal neurenteric cysts are rare in the literature, described by sporadic case reports and small case series. In the vast majority of cases, these lesions are intradural extramedullary. We report the novel case of a cervical neurenteric cyst that was simultaneously intramedullary and extramedullary. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 47-year-old man underwent C2 through C7 laminectomies for microsurgical resection of a large cystic intradural mass, with C1 through T1 instrumentation and fusion. Gross total resection was obtained. Fusion was necessary after removal of the posterior elements because the vertebrae were thinned extensively and remodeled around the tumor, a treatment paradigm that has not been described adequately for neurenteric cysts previously. CONCLUSIONS: A novel case of cervical intramedullary and extramedullary neurenteric cyst is presented with clinical, radiographic, and histologic details. Given the potential for bony remodeling around these developmental tumors, the possibility exists for instability after certain neurenteric cysts are resected. Thus, the present case adds fixation and fusion to the potential treatment paradigm for select spinal neurenteric cysts.

Medical Subject Headings

Cervical Vertebrae (diagnostic imaging, surgery); Humans; Laminectomy; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Microsurgery; Middle Aged; Neural Tube Defects (diagnostic imaging, pathology, surgery); Neurosurgical Procedures; Spinal Cord Diseases (diagnostic imaging, pathology, surgery); Spinal Fusion; Thoracic Vertebrae (diagnostic imaging, surgery); Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Publication Date

11-1-2016

Publication Title

World neurosurgery

E-ISSN

1878-8769

Volume

95

First Page

621.e7

Last Page

621.e12

PubMed ID

27535627

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1016/j.wneu.2016.08.003

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