Bodzewan Emmanuel Fonyuy
Objective: Primary spinal cord tumors are very rare (incidence 0.26/100,000 person/years) in children and adolescents (0-19 years), commonly presents with low back pain, pain radiating to thigh/knee, lower extremity numbness/weakness, urinary dysfunction and abnormal gait. Here we present a case of spinal cord ependymoma in sacral region presented with neurogenic bowel which is very rare in paediatric age group. Methodology: A 5 years old girl from Dhaka presented with increased bowel frequency, 8-12 times/day, semi solid for 2 years without any systemic or neurological complaints. On query, her parents disclosed history of urinary retention 2 years back which improved with intermittent self-catheterization over 3 months with subsequent normal bladder habit for 2 years. General examination, vital parameters were normal. Anal area appeared normal with reduced anal tone. Neurological examination including motor, sensory examination of both lower limbs and other systems revealed normal. Results: CBC, RBS, TSH, creatinine, electrolytes, CXR, USG of whole abdomen, stool R/E, culture, colonoscopy were normal. MRI of lumbo sacral spine (sagittal precontrast T1W1)(Figure1a) revealed a heterogenous, iso-intermediate intense (in comparison to spinal cord) lobulated mass at S2-S5, with mild inhomogenous enhancement on post contrast T1W1(figure1b). It was clearly delineated as mild heterogenous, hyperintense lobulated lesion in Sagittal T2W1(figure1c) suggesting intracanalicular myxopapillary ependymoma/ Schwannoma/ neurofibroma involving S2-S5 spine. Conus medullaris(L1), disk heights were normal without any sign of tethered cord or disc herniation. After laminectomy an extradural tumour (S1-S4) was removed near totally(Figure1de), histopathology revealed cellular ependymoma (WHO grade II). Leukocyte common antigen, CD20, CD3 was negative. It was followed by palliative Radiotherapy (total T.D 4400cGy,22Fr,31days). Conclusion: Patient regained her normal bowel habit within 6 months of surgery. After 8 years she was completely symptoms free without any tumor recurrence which supports long term survival and complete functional recovery of spinal cord ependymoma with specific therapy.
English 
Spanish 
Chinese 
Russian 
German 
French 
Portuguese 
Hindi