Ultrasound diagnosis of fetal intraspinal cysts in the third trimester

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the use of ultrasound to diagnose fetal intraspinal cyst in thethird trimester.

METHOD

A retrospective analysis of two cases of intraspinal cysts was performed. Theimaging characteristics of the two cysts were discussed.

RESULT

Both cases were of single lance-shaped intraspinal cysts, which were positioned around the terminal conus medullaris along the spinal cord at the side of the dorsal part, mimicking the cord.

CONCLUSION

Prenatal evaluation of the spinal cord is helpful in detecting intraspinal cysts.

Intraspinal Degenerative Cyst Causing Compression Of Cervicomedullary Junction

BACKGROUND

Intraspinal degenerative cysts in the cervical region are rare disorders that may cause myelopathy or radiculopathy. Most of the intraspinal degenerative cysts reported are extradural cysts. This case report includes the neuroimaging, intraoperative, pathologic, and postoperative findings obtained in a patient with a degenerative intradural cyst at the craniovertebral (CV) junction.

CASE DESCRIPTION

We report a patient presenting with progressive spastic quadriparesis resulting from compressive myelopathy due to intradural degenerative cyst at the CV junction. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging showed the intradural cyst at the cervicomedullary junction with degenerative changes causing myelopathy. We performed decompression of the CV junction, and histopathology of the cyst revealed degenerative cyst. Postoperatively the symptoms were relieved with no apparent complication. Intraspinal degenerative cysts causing compressive myelopathy are rare. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of intradural degenerative cyst at the CV junction.

CONCLUSIONS

In this case report, we demonstrated the clinical, imaging, intraoperative, and pathologic features of a degenerative intraspinal cyst at the CV junction that was intradural in location. Compression of the spinal cord resulted in a gradually progressive myelopathy that showed remarkable improvement immediately after decompression by cystectomy.

A rare case of thoracic spinal intradural extramedullary enterogenous cyst with acute onset: case report and literature review

The intraspinal enterogenous cyst, also called an neurenteric cyst, is a rare congenital disease. It was reported to be local to the C1 to L2 spinal segments, with the majority located in the cervicothoracic region. Most patients present with symptoms of progressive focal pain, myelopathic signs or radicular symptoms. We report a rare case of thoracic spinal intradural extramedullary enterogenous cyst with rapidly progressive weakness of both lower extremities. Additionally, we analysed the literature concerning the clinical features, diagnosis and prognosis of this disease.