Tanycytic ependymoma of filum terminale: A case report

• Published in: Clinical neurology and neurosurgery Vol. 114; no. 2; pp. 169 - 171
• Main Authors: Radhakrishnan, Neelima, Suresh Nair, N, Hingwala, Divyata Rajendra, Kapilamoorthy, T.R, Radhakrishnan, V.V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.02.2012; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Cauda Equina - metabolism; Cauda Equina - pathology; Cauda Equina - surgery; Diagnosis, Differential; Ependymoma - metabolism; Ependymoma - pathology; Ependymoma - surgery; Filum terminale; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Laminectomy; Male; Medical diagnosis; Medical sciences; Muscle Weakness - etiology; Neurologic Examination; Neurology; Neurosurgery; Neurosurgical Procedures; Spinal Cord - pathology; Spinal Cord Neoplasms - metabolism; Spinal Cord Neoplasms - pathology; Spinal Cord Neoplasms - surgery; Spine - pathology; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Tanycytic ependymoma; Tumors; Tanycytic ependymoma; Filum terminale; Case study; Nervous system diseases; Glioma; Surgery; Central nervous system disease; Tumor; Ependymoma
• ISSN: 0303-8467; 1872-6968
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2011.09.017

Abstract Tanycytic ependymoma is an uncommon but well-recognized variant of ependymoma. Here we report a case of tanycytic ependymoma occurring at the region of filum terminale in a 44-year male who presented with low backache, bilateral lower limb weakness and urinary incontinence. MR imaging in this patient showed a lesion that was composed of solid and cystic components and was suggestive of ependymoma. The filum terminale region is an extremely unusual location for the occurrence of tanycytic ependymoma. To the best of our knowledge this is the third case of tanycytic ependymoma occurring in the filum terminale region.