title: Giant terminal lipomyelocystocele.
abstract: Terminal myelocystocele is a rare form of occult spinal dysraphism in which the hydromyelic caudal spinal cord and the subarachnoid space are herniated through a posterior spina bifida. A 1-year-old female child presented with a large lumbosacral mass (30 x 20 x 10 cm), flaccid paraplegia and urinary incontinence since birth. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a low-lying conus (with associated conus lipoma) and a dilated central canal surrounded by a meningocele suggestive of terminal lipomyelocystocele and was operated on successfully. In our experience, this was a giant terminal lipomyelocystocele and such a large lesion has not been reported in the literature before. Terminal myelocystocele should be included in the differential diagnosis of congenital lesions presenting as a lumbosacral mass and operated early.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India. drdeepakkumargupta@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Deepak Kumar
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Shashank
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramdurg
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Mahapatra
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008161:Lumbosacral Region / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000601:surgery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008591:Meningomyelocele / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013115:Spinal Canal / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery; D016135:Spinal Dysraphism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery