title: A case of diastematomyelia associated with myeloschisis in a hemicord.
abstract: We report a case of myeloschisis on the right hemicord in a patient with diastematomyelia. The patient was a female neonate with myeloschisis visible at birth in the upper lumbar region. Radiological examination, including three-dimensional CT and MRI, clearly revealed a bony septum as well as the myeloschisis on the right hemicord, which enabled us to make a precise preoperative diagnosis of this complex anomaly. Closure of the myeloschisis and removal of the septum were successfully accomplished in one stage to prevent subsequent infection and neurological deterioration. The presence of combined diastematomyelia and myeloschisis is consistent with the hypothesis of an ontogenic basis of development and emphasizes the importance of early imaging for diagnosis in this complex anomaly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kajii-cho 465, Kawaramachi Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan. tyamana@koto.kpu-m.ac.jp
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamanaka
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sasajima
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mineura
mesh_terms: D018437:Brown-Sequard Syndrome / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery