title: Congenital intramedullary tumor with neonatal manifestations.
abstract: The authors report on a 45-day-old boy with a congenital intramedullary tumor with clinical manifestations since birth. Neurologic examination disclosed severe bilateral lower-limb hypotonia and diplegia, with exacerbated deep tendon reflexes and clonus associated with severe pain at manipulation. Further evaluation of this patient included screening for infections, computed tomographic scan, myelography, and somatosensory evoked potentials. The definite diagnosis was a solid holocord astrocytoma. This report discusses a rare disorder in the neonatal period and makes other medical practitioners aware of this diagnosis. Previously published literature is also reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, São Lucas Hospital-School of Medicine, Pontifíca Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul Pôrto Alegre, Brazil. magdalahorgue@conex.com.br
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Coutinho
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Janisch
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ehlers
mesh_terms: D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010166:Palliative Care; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology