Concomitant conus medullaris ependymoma and filum terminale lipoma: case report.Neurosurgery. 2006 Jun; 58(6):E1214; discussion E1214.N
OBJECTIVE
Ependymomas of the conus medullaris-cauda equina-filum terminale region are typically solitary lesions. In this report, we describe the clinical presentation, radiographic findings, operative details, and pathological features of a patient with a conus medullaris ependymoma and a filum terminale lipoma.
CLINICAL PRESENTATION
A 40-year-old woman presented with increasing low back pain and bowel and bladder dysfunction. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a partially cystic enhancing lesion at the conus medullaris and a T1-weighted hyperintense mass within the filum terminale.
INTERVENTION
An L2-L3 laminotomy/laminoplasty was performed for gross total resection of the mass. Histopathological examination demonstrated a conus medullaris ependymoma and filum terminale lipoma. The patient experienced complete resolution of her preoperative symptoms.
CONCLUSION
Spinal cord ependymomas are almost exclusively single lesions and their coexistence with other pathological entities is rare. In this report, we describe a patient with a concomitant conus medullaris ependymoma and filum terminale lipoma.