Primary myxopapillary ependymoma of the medulla: case report.
OBJECTIVE
Myxopapillary ependymoma is a subclassification of ependymoma that is thought to be nearly exclusive to the conus medullaris or filum terminale. Primary intracerebral or brainstem myxopapillary ependymomas are rare.


METHODS
An 8-year-old child presented with a 5-month history of nausea and vomiting and a 1-week history of headache. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a nodular mass in the medulla with an associated cyst extending into the fourth ventricle.


METHODS
A suboccipital craniotomy was performed, and a gross total resection of the lesion and cyst was achieved. Histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of myxopapillary ependymoma. A discussion of other reported cases of extraspinal myxopapillary ependymomas is presented.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first report of a case of myxopapillary ependymoma, confirmed by histology, in the medulla. Although rare, myxopapillary ependymomas outside of the filum terminale do exist.
DiLuna
Michael L
ML
Department of Neurosurgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, USA.
Levy
Gillian H
GH
Sood
Shreya
S
Duncan
Charles C
CC
D020295:Brain Stem Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002551:Cerebral Ventricle Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D003399:Craniotomy; D004806:Ependymoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery