Intradural extramedullary anaplastic ependymoma in dorsal spinal cord: Case report

Abstract

Ependymomas are common intramedullary spinal tumors but there are very few reports of this tumour presenting with exophytic growth patterns mimicking as intradural extramedullary (IDEM) tumors [1]. Intradural extramedullary tumors are more of an intra-operative finding rather than a clinical diagnosis. The tumor pathological features are usually benign and they most commonly arise from the central canal of the spinal cord, the conus medullaris or the filum terminale [1]. In contrast, intra and extramedullary ependymomas are reported very rarely and have wide variety of histological features [3]. We present a case of recurrent spinal anaplastic ependymoma with an extramedullary exophytic lesions as well. Intra-operatively there was poor delineation between the lesion and the spinal cord.