title: Limited dorsal myeloschisis associated with dermoid elements.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Limited dorsal myeloschisis (LDM) originates from undisjointed neural and cutaneous ectoderms during primary neurulation. Its hallmark is a fibroneural stalk causing tethering on the dorsal spinal cord rostral to the conus. Its treatment is a relatively straightforward resection of the LDM stalk from the spinal cord.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On reviewing our series of 75 cases of LDMs, we found that the majority of LDM stalks have only a glioneuronal core within a fibrous stroma, but a small number have been found to have elements of dermoid cyst or a complete dermal sinus tract either contiguous with the fibroneural stalk or incorporated within its glial matrix, not surprising considering the original continuum of cutaneous and neural ectoderm in LDMs' embryogenesis. The dermoid element can be microscopic and escape casual observation, but could grow to large intradural dermoid cysts if part of the dermoid invested LDM stalk is left inside the dura.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We present our series of LDMs associated with dermoid elements and recommend excising the entire length of the intradural LDM stalk from its dural entry point to its merge point with the spinal cord during the initial treatment to avoid secondary deterioration and additional surgery.
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Neurosurgery, Regional Centre of Paediatric Neurosurgery, Kaiser Foundation Hospitals of Northern California, Oakland, CA, USA.|Paediatric Neurosurgery, Altona Children's Hospital, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eibach
authors.affiliation: Neuropathology, Regional Centre of Paediatric Neurosurgery, Kaiser Foundation Hospitals of Northern California, Oakland, CA, USA.|Adjunct Faculty of Neuropathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, USA.
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Moes
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Neurosurgery, Regional Centre of Paediatric Neurosurgery, Kaiser Foundation Hospitals of Northern California, Oakland, CA, USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zovickian
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Neurosurgery, Regional Centre of Paediatric Neurosurgery, Kaiser Foundation Hospitals of Northern California, Oakland, CA, USA. pangtv@aol.com.|Paediatric Neurosurgery, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK. pangtv@aol.com.|Paediatric Neurosurgery, University of California, Davis, CA, USA. pangtv@aol.com.|Department of Paediatric Neurosurgery, Kaiser Permanente Medical Centre, Third Floor, Suite 39, 3600 Broadway, Oakland, CA, 94611, USA. pangtv@aol.com.
authors.forename: Dachling
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003884:Dermoid Cyst / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000473:pathology*; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: Dermal sinus tract; Dermoid cyst; Dysraphic malformation; Limited dorsal myeloschisis; Primary neurulation