Spinal intramedullary glioependymal cyst presented with paraplegia in an adult

Abstract

We report a case of intramedullary glioependymal cyst at the level of D11-D12 vertebra in 38 year old male patient, who presented to our hospital with progressive spastic paraplegia. The preoperative magnetic resonance image spine revealed a well-defined intramedullary cystic lesion at D11-D12 level, which was hypointense on T1W1, hyperintense on T2W1 and showing ring type enhancement on post contrast images. The patient underwent D11-D12 laminectomy, durotomy, dorsal midline myelotomy with fenestration and decompression of intramedullary cystic lesion. Biopsy was taken from the cyst wall. The histopathological study of specimen was suggestive of glio-ependymal cyst. Postoperatively patient improved neurologically but there was residual paraparesis at the time of discharge. To the best of our knowledge, only 20 cases have been reported so far. Considering this rarity and reviewing the literature, we present a case of spinal cord glioependymal cyst along with radiological, surgical, pathological and immunohistochemistry findings.