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Magnetic Resonance Imaging In A Case Of Myxopapillary Ependymoma In A Young Female

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Magnetic Resonance Imaging In A Case Of Myxopapillary Ependymoma In A Young Female essay

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In children, tumours of the spine are much rarer than intracranial tumours. They are classified into intramedullary, intradural and extradural tumours.1Magnetic resonance imaging provides crucial information regarding the extent, location and internal structure of the mass thus critically narrowing the differential diagnosis. Our department reports a case of a 16 year old female who presented with history of proximal muscle weakness and MR features of the above disease. We discuss the typical MR features of myxopapillary ependymoma and determine the role of MR imaging in identifying the tumour, establishing its extent and defining its relationship with adjacent intraspinal structures.

Introduction

Myxopapillary ependymomas are highly vascular tumours arising almost exclusively in the dorso lumbar region and produce symptoms that can mimic discogenic pathology. Ependymomas constitute approximately 8% of all intracranial gliomas in children and 63% of primary intraspinal gliomas.

Myxopapillary ependymoma is a distinct pathological sub type that occurs almost exclusively in the conus medullaris and filum terminale; it accounts for a majority of ependymomas in this region.

Patients clinically present with back pain, radiculopathy, paraparesis, bowel and bladder disturbances with a peak age incidence of 30-40 years however has been reported at all ages with a predilection in males.

Case history: A 16 year old female presented to the department of paediatrics with history of dysphagia ,pneumonia and proximal muscle weakness. MRI: MRI brain with gadolinium was performed in a Siemens Magnetom Avanto

Tesla scanner. The study reveals a well defined intra medullary altered signal intensity lesion in the region of the conus measuring around 6.9cmx1.3cm with widening of the spinal canal. The lesion shows intermediate signal intensity on T1 and T2 and appears hyperintense on STIR sequences with a hypointense rim noted on T2 weighted sequences in the lower margin of the lesion. Post contrast study shows intense enhancement.An extensive intra medullary CSF signal intensity cavity with septations noted proximal to the lesion extending upto C2 level.

Histopathological findings: The patient underwent a partial excision biopsy of the lesion and the histopathological evaluation revealed tissue composed of tumor cells arranged in papillary pattern. The cells were cuboidal to elongated radially arranged around vascularised and myxomatous stroma cores. The cells are also seen in clusters in a loose myxoid matrix. The nucleus is mildly enlarged, with fine chromatin. Areas of hemorrhage seen.

Smears were highly cellular showing cuboidal and columnar cells with surrounding myxoid material. II.Discussion: Ependymomas are the most common intra medullary spinal cord tumours in adults. Even so, they are quite rare with only about 227 cases in the United states each year. The two most common ependymoma subtypes are cellular and myxopapillary ependymomas.

Cellular ependymomas can arise anywhere however they usually occur in the cervical cord whereas myxopapillary ependymoma occurs almost exclusively in the conus medullaris and filum terminale Patients with these tumours typically present with low back pain which may or may not be associated with sciatica. Other symptoms,such as sensorimotor disturbances and bowel and bladder dysfunction are much less common At gross examination ,myxopapillary ependymomas are soft ,vascular, lobular or sausage-shaped masses which are are often encapsulated and may show haemorrhagic or mucinous degeneration. The site of these tumours are usually within the filum terminale but may also extend and incorporate the conus medullaris. Myxopapillary ependymomas may grow to a quite large size , filling and expanding the spinal canal. Tumours located around the sacrum can cause bone destruction, although such cases are rare Radiographs of myxopapillary ependymomas are usually normal but may show a widened spinal canal or bone destruction.Myelograms may demonstrate a well defined intra dural mass at the conus medullaris5 On unenhanced CT scans ,myxopapillary ependymomas are typically iso attenuating to the spinal cord.

Small tumors produce nothing more than non specific canal widening whereas larger tumours may produce scalloped vertebral bodies ,neural foraminal enlargement. On contrast enhanced CT scans, myxopapillary ependymomas typically demonstrate intense homogenous enhancement. The MRI features of myxopapillary ependymoma are non specific.Tumors are usually isointense relative to the spinal cord on T1-weighted images and hyperintense on T2-weighted images. At times they can be hyperintense relative to the spinal cord on un-enhanced T1-weighted images due to proteinaceous mucoid matrix.This is a feature which may be useful in distinguishing myxopapillary ependymoma from other ependymoma subtypes.which are virtually always hypo- or isointense on T1-weighted images Myxopapillary ependymomas enhance intensely after administration of contrast material. Enhancement is homogenous but may be heterogenous when haemorrhage or necrosis is present.MRI may also show expansion of the spinal canal and neural foramina, bone destruction and surrounding soft tissue invasion. The differential diagnosis for small myxopapillary ependymomas in the conus medullaris and filum terminale includes schwanomma and sub ependymoma, both of which can mimic features almost similar to myxopapillary ependymoma. The differential diagnosis also includes astrocytoma, hemangioblastoma, ganglioma paraganglioma and other ependymoma subtypes. For large ependymomas that case sacral destruction the differential diagnosis should include sacral tumours such as aneurysmal bone cyst, chordoma, plasmacytoma, metastasis and giant cell tumour.

Conclusion:

Ependymoma is the most common intra medullary spinal tumour, however they are quite rare with only 227 intra dural spinal ependymomas diagnosed in the United states each year.

MR imaging is valuable in identifying the extent of thoracolumbar myxopapillary ependymomas and in defining the relationship to intraspinal structures. The MR findings in myxopapillary ependymoma are nonspecific, however the diagnosis can be suggested by a large, intensely enhancing, intradural extramedullary thoracolumbar mass that extends for several vertebral levels. Myxopapillary ependymoma should also be included in a differential diagnosis of a post sacral mass. Imaging protocols should examine the entire dorsolumbar region and include IV contrast material administration.

Reference:

  1. Andrea Rossi M.D,Carlo Gandalfo M.D et al. Tumors of spine in children,Neuroimaging clinics of North America,Elselvier. 2007 ;17(1): 17-35.
  2. Franz.J Wippold et al ;MR imaging of myxopapillary ependymoma :Findings and value to determine extent of tumour and its relation to intraspinal structures;AJR,1995;165:1263-1267.
  3. Do Dai,M.J Rovira,V B Ho and R.R Gomez ,Childhood onset of myxopapillary ependymomatosis:MR features;American journal of neuroradiology april 1995,16(4):835-839.
  4. Friedman DP,Hollander M.D et al ;Neuroradioogy case of the day.Myxopapillary ependymoma of the conus medullaris or filum terminale resulting in superficial siderosis and dissemination of tumour along CSF pathways;Radiographics 1998;18(3):794-8.
  5. Stephanie Shors et al ,Myxopapillary ependymoma of sacrum,RadioGraphics 2006; 26:S111–S116.
  6. Osborn AG.Tumours ,cysts and tumour like lesionsof the spine and spinal cord.In:Osborn AG,ed.Diagnostic neuroradiology.St.Louis,Mo:Mosby year book,1994;906-909.
  7. Monisha Choudhury et al .Myxopapillary ependymoma:Lesser known cytomorpholgic features.Journal of cytology:2015:32(1):42-45.
  8. Author biography- Dr.Sanjana Shetty.Junior resident.K.S Hegde Medical Academy. Dr.Rajesh Venunath,Assistant professor.K.S Hegde Medical Academy. Dr.Raghuraj.Associate professor.K.S Hegde Medical Academy. Dr.Lathika Shetty.Professor .K.S Hegde Medical Academy.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging In A Case Of Myxopapillary Ependymoma In A Young Female essay

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Magnetic Resonance Imaging In A Case Of Myxopapillary Ependymoma In A Young Female. (2019, Apr 13). Retrieved from https://sunnypapers.com/magnetic-resonance-imaging-in-a-case-of-myxopapillary-ependymoma-in-a-young-female/