Myelomeningocele and thick filum terminale with tethered cord appearing as a human tail. Case report.
Tail-like caudal appendages may be associated with spinal dysraphism, particularly with spinal lipomas or lipomyelomeningoceles. An unusual case is presented of a patient with a myelomeningocele and a thick filum terminale with tethered spinal cord, which presented with the external appearance of a human tail. A review of the literature reveals that human tails may be associated with dysraphic conditions. Extensive neuroradiological examinations should be performed for all such cases of apparent tails.
Chakrabortty
S
S
Department of Neurosurgery, Kobe University School of Medicine, Japan.
Oi
S
S
Yoshida
Y
Y
Yamada
H
H
Yamaguchi
M
M
Tamaki
N
N
Matsumoto
S
S
D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000601:surgery*; D002420:Cauda Equina / Q000002:abnormalities*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008591:Meningomyelocele / Q000601:surgery*; D016136:Spina Bifida Occulta / Q000601:surgery*