Adult presentation of spinal dysraphism and tandem diastematomyelia.
BACKGROUND
Diastematomyelia is a split-cord malformation often accompanied by other cord or column anomalies.


OBJECTIVE
To report on an adult patient with diastematomyelia and discuss the embryological basis and related developmental sequelae of this split-cord malformation.


METHODS
Case report.


METHODS
A summary of the management of a 54-year-old woman with recent clinical symptomatology related to an undiagnosed split-cord malformation is presented with accompanying literature review.


RESULTS
A rare adult presentation of diastematomyelia with accompanying intradural extramedullary epidermoid tumor was repaired with resection of the soft-tissue mass and excision of the fibro-osseous septum.


CONCLUSIONS
Initial presentation of diastematomyelia is rarely seen in adults; accompanying pathology includes scoliosis, tethered cord, and intradural tumors. Effective treatment involves identification of the primary pathology.
Porensky
Paul
P
Department of Neurological Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 244 E. Pearson St. #1705, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA. p-poresnky@md.northwestern.edu
Muro
Kenji
K
Ganju
Aruna
A
D000367:Age Factors; D004814:Epidermal Cyst / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011300:Preoperative Care; D013115:Spinal Canal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D016135:Spinal Dysraphism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed