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Spinal myxopapillary ependymoma

Case contributed by Amro Omar
Diagnosis probable

Presentation

Back pain , bladder and bowel dysfunction

Patient Data

Age: 45
Gender: Male

Sagittal T2 weighted images show a large lobulated hyperintense mass filling the lumbar and distal thecal sac causing scalloping and remodeling the vertebral posterior endplate and the sacrum.  Sagittal T1WI before and after contrast again demonstrate the mass with heterogenous intense enhancement.

Case Discussion

Myxopapillary ependymomas are slow growing glioma arising from ependymal cells of conus, filum terminale, cauda equina, and are characterized by hemorrhagic component and scalloping of the vertebral bodies.

It is considered a WHO grade I but can show subarachnoid dissemination, no reported malignant degeneration.

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