Intraspinal extradural teratoma mimicking neural sheath tumor in infant.
BACKGROUND
An intraspinal teratoma that is located entirely extradurally is unusual both in children and in adults.


METHODS
The authors present a case of an 8-month-old male infant with an extradurally arising intraspinal mature teratoma located from T-2 to T-4, who had suffered from progressive paraparesis (grade 1). The patient did not have any stigmata or anomalies suggesting spinal dysraphism. Spinal MRI showed a cystic extradural mass markedly compressing the dural sac. On operation, the only way of getting sufficient space for exposure of the whole tumor was to perform hemilaminectomies with preservation of facetal areas to prevent postoperative instability. The tumor was well encapsulated and located entirely extradurally, and the cystic portion was occupied with yellowish fluid. The site of tumor occurrence was the spinal root sheath, mimicking a neural sheath tumor. Paraparesis had improved markedly to grade 4 by the time of the neurological examination 3 months after operation.
Department of Neurosurgery, St. Vincent Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 93-6 Chi-dong, 442-723 Paldal-ku, Suwon, Korea. sjinchoi88@hotmail.com
Seung-Jin
SJ
Choi
Hyun-Joo
HJ
Choi
Jae-Taek
JT
Hong
Hee-Kyung
HK
Woo
Jae-Hoon
JH
Sung
Sang-Won
SW
Lee
Moon-Chan
MC
Kim
Joon-Ki
JK
Kang
D015174:Epidural Neoplasms; D006652:Histological Techniques; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D018317:Nerve Sheath Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D020335:Paraparesis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013724:Teratoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery