Infantile holocord cellular ependymoma with communicating hydrocephalus: unusual presentation of a rare case

Brain Tumor Pathol. 2014 Jan;31(1):47-50. doi: 10.1007/s10014-013-0145-1. Epub 2013 Mar 20.

Abstract

We present a case of infantile holocord ependymoma in a 4-month-old boy who presented with infection of ventriculoperitoneal shunt done elsewhere for a communicating hydrocephalus. On magnetic resonance imaging, a diffuse holocord T2-hyperintense, T1-hypointense intramedullary bulky lesion with syringomyelia in the cervical level was seen. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of infantile holocord ependymoma. As the extent of morbidity associated with a spinal cord tumor is high, an increased level of suspicion and the need for a complete spinal cord screening in a case of infantile hydrocephalus without obvious clinical and radiological evidence of intracranial abnormality is emphasized.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Ependymoma / complications*
  • Ependymoma / diagnosis
  • Ependymoma / pathology
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Hydrocephalus / etiology*
  • Hydrocephalus / therapy
  • Infant
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Spinal Cord Neoplasms / complications*
  • Spinal Cord Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Spinal Cord Neoplasms / pathology
  • Syringomyelia / diagnosis
  • Syringomyelia / etiology
  • Syringomyelia / pathology
  • Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt / adverse effects