title: True Cervicothoracic Meningocele: A Rare and Benign Condition.
abstract: Cervical meningoceles are rare spinal dysraphism, accounting for approximately 7% of all cystic spinal dysraphism. In spite of the rarity, the clinical course is most of the times benign. The surgical treatment includes resection of the lesion and untethering, when presented. We present a 14-day-old female child with true meningoceles who underwent to surgical excision and dura-mater repair. Retrospect analysis of the literature concerning true cervical meningocele is performed. By reporting this illustrative case, we focus on its classification and its differentiation from other types of cervical spinal dysraphism, such as myelocystocele and myelomeningocele. Although its course is benign, it is mandatory a continuum follow up with periodic magnetic resonance imaging of spinal cord, since late neurological deterioration has been described.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro; Severino Sombra University Center , Medicine Department, Vassouras, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruno L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Pessoa
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro; Severino Sombra University Center , Medicine Department, Vassouras, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Yara
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro; Severino Sombra University Center , Medicine Department, Vassouras, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Orsini
keywords: Cervical meningocele; spinal dysraphism