Endoscopic cure of a giant sacral meningocele associated with Marfan's syndrome: case report

Non-cardiac manifestations of Marfan syndrome

Because of the widespread distribution of fibrillin 1 in the body, Marfan syndrome (MFS) affects virtually every system. The expression of this single dominantly inherited gene is variable within a family, and between families. There is some genotype-phenotype correlation which is helpful in guiding long-term prognosis, and management. In general gene mutations have been reported in clusters, with those having mainly ocular manifestations occurring in exons 1 to 15 of this 65-exon gene; those causing cardiac problems often involving cysteine replacement in a calcium binding EGF-like sequence; the most severe mutations occurring in exons 25-32, causing neonatal MFS diagnosed at birth, and severe enough to cause death frequently before the age of 2. Other correlations will certainly be found in future. This condition is progressive, and the manifestations unfold according to age. For example, if the lens is going to dislocate this usually occurs by age 10; scoliosis usually presents itself between the ages of 8 and 15; height should be monitored carefully between the onset of puberty and cessation of growth approximately age 17 or 18. Holistic care should be offered by one doctor who oversees the patient's welfare. This should be a paediatrician, paediatric cardiologist, or general practitioner in the case of an affected child. Thereafter, the physician in charge of the most seriously affected system should be aware that other systems need to be managed through a referral network.

Anterior Sacral Meningocele Masquerading as an Ovarian Cyst: A Rare Clinical Presentation Associated with Marfan Syndrome

Anterior sacral meningocele is a very rare clinical entity characterized by herniation of a meningeal sac through a sacrococcygeal defect. We report a case of a 20-year old female with Marfan syndrome who presented with abdominal distention that was misdiagnosed as an ovarian cyst on pelvic ultrasound. Pelvic magnetic resonance (MR) imaging showed large, well-defined multiloculated intrasacral and presacral cysts communicating via two separate broad necks and extending through defects in anterior aspect of sacral vertebrae. This case emphasizes that anterior sacral meningocele should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cases with pelvic cysts particularly in patients with underlying connective tissue disorders. Because severe neurologic complications or even death may occur without proper preoperative planning in such cases, MR imaging should always be performed for evaluation and characterization of pelvis cystic lesions.

Giant pseudomeningocele causing urinary obstruction in a patient with Marfan syndrome

Defective collagen biosynthesis in Marfan syndrome predisposes to dural defects such as dural ectasia, meningocele, and pseudomeningocele; thus, an increased index of suspicion for these conditions should be present in the clinical setting of Marfan syndrome. The authors describe a young woman with Marfan syndrome who was being treated with anticoagulants for a prosthetic heart valve and who presented with a spontaneous retroperitoneal hemorrhage requiring surgical evacuation. No CSF leak was encountered at surgery, but she developed progressively more severe positional headaches over the following year. She then experienced the sudden onset of acute urinary obstruction, at which time CT revealed a 17 × 15 × 13-cm presacral pseudomeningocele communicating with the thecal sac through a sacral bone defect. An anterior surgical approach was used for drainage of the pseudomeningocele as well as for primary closure of the dural defect with a bovine pericardial patch and autologous subcutaneous fat graft. After a short period of lumbar subarachnoid drainage of the CSF, the patient was able to resume normal activity without recurrent symptoms. To the authors' knowledge, such a pseudomeningocele in a patient with Marfan syndrome has been reported only twice, and this case features the largest pseudomeningocele to date. They also review the pertinent literature regarding presentation, diagnosis, and management of these lesions.

Extradural developmental dural root sleeve cyst presenting as a lumbar paraspinal mass with renal compression in an infant

Spinal extradural cysts do not normally present as a visible paraspinal mass or cause compression of the abdominal organs. The authors describe the case of a 9-month-old boy with multiple spinal extradural cysts. The largest of these cysts was along the right L-2 nerve root with significant extraspinal extension resulting in a visible slow-growing swelling in the right paraspinal region and radiological evidence of compression of the right kidney with hydronephrosis. Another large cyst along the left T-12 root caused radiologically evident compression of the left kidney but to a lesser degree. The patient also had monoparesis of the left lower limb and phenotypic features of Noonan syndrome. The authors performed marsupialization of the cysts, as well as repair of the fistula between the subarachnoid space and the cyst on the right side along the L-2 root and on the left side along the T-12 root. At 1-year follow-up, there was no paraspinal mass and the lower limbs exhibited normal power. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed marked reduction in the size of the cysts and relief of the renal compression. To the authors' knowledge, their patient is the youngest reported in literature to have a spinal extradural cyst and also the first with the cyst presenting as a paraspinal mass.

Sacral perineural cyst accompanying disc herniation

Although most of sacral perineural cysts are asymptomatic, some may produce symptoms. Specific radicular pain may be due to distortion, compression, or stretching of nerve root by a space occupying cyst. We report a rare case of S1 radiculopathy caused by sacral perineural cyst accompanying disc herniation. The patient underwent a microscopic discectomy at L5-S1 level. However, the patient's symptoms did not improved. The hypesthesia persisted, as did the right leg pain. Cyst-subarachnoid shunt was set to decompress nerve root and to equalize the cerebrospinal fluid pressure between the cephalad thecal sac and cyst. Immediately after surgery, the patient had no leg pain. After 6 months, the patient still remained free of leg pain.

Intrasacral extradural arachnoid cysts

Three patients presented with rare intrasacral extradural arachnoid cysts manifesting as sensory deficiencies and pain in the lower extremities. Magnetic resonance imaging with various sequences identified the cysts. Two patients underwent surgery via laminectomy of the sacrum for cyst exploration and disconnection of the cyst with the dural theca. Postoperative outcome was favorable in these two patients. Intrasacral extradural arachnoid cyst should be considered in the differential diagnosis of low back pain.

Incomplete Currarino triad as an embryological variant. Case report and review of the literature

Currarino triad is a rare embryological complex of congenital caudal anomalies, including anorectal malformation, sacral osseous defect, and presacral mass, that results from abnormal separation of the neuroectoderm from the endoderm. The authors present an unusual case of a patient who had, in addition to the classic features of this syndrome, holocord syringomyelia, low conus medullaris, and tethered cord demonstrated by magnetic resonance imaging. They also discuss the embryological significance of this clinical entity and briefly review the relevant literature.

Neuroendoscopy for spinal disorders: a brief review

Neuroendoscopy has grown rapidly in the last 20 years as a therapeutic modality for treating a variety of spinal disorders. Spinal endoscopy has been widely used to treat patients with cervical, thoracic, and lumbosacral disorders safely and effectively. Although it is most commonly used with minimally invasive lumbar spine surgery, endoscopy has gained widespread acceptance for the treatment of thoracic disc herniations and for anterior release and rod implantation in the correction of thoracic spinal deformity. The authors review the use of endoscopy in spine surgery and in the treatment of spinal disorders as well as in the treatment of intrathoracic nonspinal lesions. Endoscopy has some significant advantages over open or other minimally invasive techniques in that it can allow for better visualization of the lesion, smaller incision sizes with reduced morbidity and mortality, reduced hospital stays, and ultimately lower cost. In addition, spinal endoscopy allows observers and operating room staff to be more involved in each case and fosters education. Spinal endoscopy, like any novel modality, carries with it additional risks and the surgeon must always be prepared to convert to an open procedure. The learning curve for spinal endoscopy is steep and the procedure should not be attempted alone by a novice surgeon. Nevertheless, with training and experience, the spine surgeon can achieve better outcomes, reduced morbidity, and better cosmesis with spinal endoscopy, and the operating times are comparable to open procedures. As technology evolves and more experience is obtained, neuroendoscopy will likely achieve further roles as a mainstay in spine surgery.

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension from a CSF leak in a patient with Marfan's syndrome

A patient with Marfan's syndrome had spontaneous intracranial hypotension secondary to a proved CSF leak. It is postulated that the leak was caused by minor, unrecognised trauma rupturing spinal arachnoid diverticula. The diverticula were probably pre-existing abnormalities complicating the Marfan's syndrome. It is concluded that patients with spinal meningeal defects may be at increased risk of developing CSF leaks, possibly secondary to unrecognised trauma.