A Case of Intramedullary Ependymoma in the upper Thoracic Spinal Cord.

Chung, Hung Seob; Rim, Chang Soo; Lee, Hoo Kap; Chu, Jeong Wha

Original Article

Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society 1978;7(2): 473-478.

Hung Seob Chung, Chang Soo Rim, Hoo Kap Lee, Jeong Wha Chu

Department of Neurosurgery, College of Medicine Korea University, Seoul, Korea.

ABSTRACT

We have recently experienced a case of intramedullary ependymoma in the upper thoracic spinal cord. A 46 years old man was admitted to our Department of Neurosurgery because of spastic paraplegia and disturbance of urination since 6 years ago when the disability developed rather abruptly. Myelogram showed a subtotal block of the dye column at the level of T-3 intervertebral space about where a fusiform enlargement of the cord was shadowed. Opening the duramater after total laminectomy performd through C7 to T3, a markedly swallen and enlarged spinal cord was under a great pressure. Spinal cord was paper thin and fully filled with a massive tumor inside of it. The intrameduallary tumor was mushroomed out on dorsal myelotomy. Histological study was verified to be ependymoma. The patient has not shown any improvement of neurological deficits in postoperative period.