The radio anatomical arrangement of nerve roots at L3 level in cauda equina sac is it affected by diseases?

An observational study to discover the common conditions affecting the lumbosacral region that may affect lumbosacral position and tension. All the patients, underwent MRI exaamination (magnetic resonance imaging) in the supine position, were examined by the same consultant radiologist. The article was revised by the institutional ethical approval committee. The position of the nerve roots was observed, and the number of nerve roots was calculated anterior to a line passing between the mid-transvers process of L3(third lumbar vertebra). The number of nerve roots ahead of this line was calculated by the radiologist at the level of the right intervertebral foramen and at the left one. This procedure was applied to the normal group, and 5 common pathological diseases were repeated including single-level lumbar disc prolapse, multiple-disc prolapse, multiple bulge, spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis (at the level of L45 (fourth to fifth lumbar vertebrae) or L5S1 (fifth lumbar to first sacral vertebrae) being outside the study area, i.e., L3). We noticed significant difference in the number of the nerve roots between the cases with herniated discs, spinal stenosis, and spondylolisthesis with the normal group and the significance was in ascending increment in significance being the highest in cases with spondylolisthesis, and even in the groups of other pathologies which are statistically not significant, we noticed that the significance is proportional to the severity of the disease being the least in single level cases (p 0.427), to be more significant on cases with multiple prolapses(p 0.319) to be more in cases with multiple bulges to start to be statistically significant in herniated, higher significance in cases with spinal stenosis to be the highest in cases with spondylolisthesis.

Cauda equina neuroendocrine tumor: a report of three cases and review of the literature with focus on differential diagnosis and postoperative management.

INTRODUCTION: Cauda equina neuroendocrine tumors (CENETs), previously described as cauda equina paragangliomas (PGLs) are rare and well-vascularized benign entities which can be often misdiagnosed with other intradural tumors more common in this anatomical site, such as ependymomas and neurinomas. We describe three cases of CENETs observed at our institution with particular focus on differential diagnosis and postoperative management. Since the lack of guidelines, we performed a literature review to identify factors that can predict recurrence and influence postoperative decision making. CASE REPORT AND LITERATURE REVIEW: We report on three patients, two of them presenting with a clinical history of lower back pain and sciatica. In all cases magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the lumbosacral spine with and without Gd-DTPA revealed an intradural lesion with strong contrast enhancement, first described as atypical ependymoma or schwannoma. A complete tumor resection was achieved in all cases, the histopathological diagnosis classified the tumors as CENETs. In our literature review, a total of 688 articles were screened and 162 patients were included. Patients demographic data, clinical symptoms, resection and recurrence were recorded. DISCUSSION: Differential diagnosis between CENETs and other more common tumors affecting cauda equina region, such as ependymomas or schwannomas (neurinomas), is still very challenging. Due to the lack of specific clinical or radiological characteristics, a correct preoperative diagnosis is almost impossible. With this paper we want to point out that CENETs must be considered in the differential diagnosis, most of all in case of entities with atypical radiological features. According to the literature, tumor recurrence after gross total resection is unlikely, while a long-term follow-up is recommended in case of subtotal resection or local aggressive behavior.

Lightning strike­induced cauda equina syndrome: a case report.

Peripheral nerve injuries after being struck by lightning have been documented. Here, we report a case of cauda equina syndrome induced by lightning. A 27-year-old man presented with numbness, a burning sensation in the saddle region, and increased urinary urgency after being struck by lightning. He had absent Achilles reflexes and paresthesia in the saddle region upon neurological examination, and magnetic resonance imaging of the spine was normal. Electrophysiological studies indicated involvement of bilateral L5, S1, and S2 myotomes and revealed cauda equina lesions. 
Peripheral nerve injury induced by lightning is rare, and the evaluation of people with neurological complaints using electromyography will help determine the true incidence.

Primary intradural Extraosseous Ewing's sarcoma of the cauda equina: A case report and literature review.

Intradural Extraosseous Ewing sarcoma (IEES) is an infrequent occurrence. We report a case of a 66-year-old male who presented with a 2-month history of low back pain and bilateral S1 sciatica, with acute sphincter dysfunction. Imaging studies revealed an intradural extramedullary lesion in the cauda equina spanning from level L4 to S1. The patient underwent partial removal of the intradural lesion. Histopathological examination showed the presence of small round cells, which were consistent with Ewing Sarcoma. The patient was then treated with targeted radiation therapy and chemotherapy. The rarity of IEES in this specific location underscores the significance of evaluating and managing patients with intradural spinal tumors with careful consideration of this diagnosis. To further investigate this condition, we conducted a thorough review of the literature on IEES involving the lumbar spine and cauda equina. Our analysis revealed that patients with this condition frequently exhibit rapidly progressive neurological symptoms likely attributed to hemorrhagic transformation. This characteristic may serve as a distinguishing factor from other lesion types, particularly benign ones. Our study provides a comprehensive summary that can offer direction for clinical management in comparable uncommon and novel cases.

Atypical presentation of tight filum terminale with thoracic disc herniation: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Tight filum terminale is a rare and challenging condition to diagnose because it presents with nonspecific symptoms and unclear imaging findings. This report documents an atypical case of tight filum terminale. CASE PRESENTATION: The patient was a previously healthy Asian 18-year-old male presenting with recurrent upper extremity and back pain, initially treated as nonspecific musculoskeletal pain. Notably, the patient's symptoms were inconsistent with the dermatome, showing no correlation with his skin's sensory innervation areas. In contrast to typical tight filum terminale presentations focused on lower extremity and lumbar region disturbances, this patient experienced pain and weakness predominantly in the upper extremities and back, hypothesized to result from traction myelopathy exacerbated by thoracic disc herniation. Investigations including blood and nerve function tests were inconclusive. However, a magnetic resonance imaging scan revealed a combination of tight filum terminale and tiny thoracic disc herniation. A diagnosis of tethered spinal cord syndrome was confirmed following further tests and imaging. The filum terminale was surgically removed, resolving the symptoms at a 7-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: This case underlines the importance of including tight filum terminale as a differential diagnosis in cases of unexplained upper or lower extremity pain. Primary care practitioners, particularly those managing undefined symptoms, should consider tight filum terminale in their diagnostic approach.

A Subdural Dissection of Cerebrospinal Fluid Causing Cauda Equina Centralization After Durotomy: A Case Report.

CASE: A 61-year-old woman with recurrent left L5 radiculopathy underwent revision L4-5 decompression complicated by incidental durotomy requiring primary repair. Postoperative course was complicated by wound drainage and headache. Repeat magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated cerebrospinal fluid dissecting a plane deep to the dura mater but superficial to the arachnoid, with the collection compressing the cauda equina in an atypical horizontal and linear fashion. Nonoperative treatment was ineffective, and she required revision decompression and dural repair. CONCLUSION: Spine surgeons should recognize this finding on postoperative imaging as a potential sign of an incomplete dural repair necessitating return to the operating room.

Valproic acid ameliorates cauda equina injury by suppressing HDAC2-mediated ferroptosis.

INTRODUCTION: Persistent neuroinflammatory response after cauda equina injury (CEI) lowers nociceptor firing thresholds, accompanied by pathological pain and decreasing extremity dysfunction. Histone deacetylation has been considered a key regulator of immunity, inflammation, and neurological dysfunction. Our previous study suggested that valproic acid (VPA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor, exhibited neuroprotective effects in rat models of CEI, although the underlying mechanism remains elusive. METHODS: The cauda equina compression surgery was performed to establish the CEI model. The Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan score, and the von Frey filament test were carried out to measure the animal behavior. Immunofluorescence staining of myelin basic protein and GPX4 was carried out. In addition, transmission electron microscope analysis was used to assess the effect of VPA on the morphological changes of mitochondria. RNA-sequencing was conducted to clarify the underlying mechanism of VPA on CEI protection. RESULTS: In this current study, we revealed that the expression level of HDAC1 and HDAC2 was elevated after cauda equina compression model but was reversed by VPA treatment. Meanwhile, HDAC2 knockdown resulted in the improvement of motor functions and pathologic pain, similar to treatment with VPA. Histology analysis also showed that knockdown of histone deacetylase (HDAC)-2, but not HDAC1, remarkably alleviated cauda equina injury and demyelinating lesions. The potential mechanism may be related to lowering oxidative stress and inflammatory response in the injured region. Notably, the transcriptome sequencing indicated that the therapeutic effect of VPA may depend on HDAC2-mediated ferroptosis. Ferroptosis-related genes were analyzed in vivo and DRG cells further validated the reliability of RNA-sequencing results, suggesting HDAC2-H4K12ac axis participated in epigenetic modulation of ferroptosis-related genes. CONCLUSION: HDAC2 is critically involved in the ferroptosis and neuroinflammation in cauda equina injury, and VPA ameliorated cauda equina injury by suppressing HDAC2-mediated ferroptosis.

When a dermatopathologist encounters the ultra-rare: A case series of superficial soft tissue/cutaneous myxopapillary ependymomas.

Myxopapillary ependymoma (MPE) is an uncommon variant of ependymoma, almost exclusively seen in conus medullaris or filum terminale. MPE can be diagnostically challenging, especially when arising extra-axially. Here we report 5 cases of superficial soft tissue/cutaneous MPE, identified across three tertiary institutions. All patients were female and three of them (3/5, 60%) were children (median age 11 years, range 6-58 years). The tumors presented as slow-growing masses of the sacrococcygeal subcutaneous soft tissues, occasionally identified after minor trauma and clinically favored to be pilonidal sinuses. Imaging showed no neuraxis connection. Macroscopically, tumors were well-circumscribed, lobulated, and solid and microscopically they exhibited typical histopathology of MPE, at least focally. Two of the tumors (2/5, 40%) showed predominantly solid or trabecular architecture with greater cellular pleomorphism, scattered giant cells, and increased mitotic activity. All tumors (5/5, 100%) showed strong diffuse immunohistochemical expression of GFAP. One tumor clustered at the category "ependymoma, myxopapillary" by methylome analysis. Two patients (2/5, 40%) had local recurrence at 8 and 30 months after the initial surgery. No patients developed metastases during the follow-up period (median 60 months, range 6-116 months). Since a subset of extra-axial MPEs behaves more aggressively, timely and accurate diagnosis is of paramount importance.

Neurolinfomatosis primaria de cola de caballo como manifestación inicial del virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana / Primary neurolymphomatosis in the cauda equina as the initial symptom of human immunodeficiency virus

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Tumor neuroendocrino bien diferenciado intradural-extramedular primario del filum terminale. Presentación de un caso y revisión de la literatura / Primary well differentiated neuroendocrine tumor of the filum terminale. Case report and literature review

Objetivo: Presentar un caso de un tumor neuroendocrino primario bien diferenciado intradural-extramedular del filum terminale y revisar la literatura. Caso: Paciente de 68 años valorada tras presentar lumbociática de difícil control analgésico objetivándose una lesión intradural-extramedular lumbar. La lesión, en relación al filum terminal, fue resecada parcialmente siendo el diagnóstico anatomopatológico de tumor neuroendocrino bien diferenciado primario (carcinoide). Tras valoración multidisciplinaria, se decidió tratamiento radioterápico estereotáctico fraccionado. En los sucesivos controles no se evidenció progresión ni diseminación metastásica. Discusión: Los tumores neuroendocrinos son neoplasias heterogéneas derivadas predominantemente de células enterocromafines, en los cuales la quimioterapia tiene un rol muy limitado. Por otra parte, la radioterapia ha sido descrita en lesiones parcialmente resecadas. Conclusión: Los tumores neuroendocrinos primarios bien diferenciados con localización intradural-extramedular lumbosacra son una rareza excepcional. La resección quirúrgica aislada, o asociada a tratamiento adyuvante radioterápico en resecciones subtotales, podría ser considerada una estrategia terapéutica efectiva

Objective: To present a case of a well-differentiated primary intradural-extramedullary neuroendocrine tumor of the filum terminale and to conduct a literature review. Case: A 68-years old patient was assessed after presenting lower back pain and sciatica with ineffective pain relief. The patient presented an intradural-extramedullary lumbar lesion arising from the filum terminale, which was partially resected. The pathology diagnosis was a well-differentiated primary neuroendocrine tumor (carcinoid tumor). After a multidisciplinary evaluation, fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy was administered. No progression or metastatic spread was observed in successive assessments. Discussion: Neuroendocrine tumors are heterogeneous neoplasms derived predominantly from enterochromaffin cells, in which chemotherapy plays a very limited role. In contrast, radiotherapy has been described in partially resected lesions. Conclusion: Well-differentiated primary neuroendocrine tumors with intradural-extramedullary lumbosacral location are an exceptional rarity. Isolated surgical resection, or associated with an adjuvant radiotherapy treatment in subtotal resections, could be considered an effective therapeutic strategy

Ciatalgia de presentación atípica en paciente con hemangioblastoma de filum terminale / Atypical onset of sciatica in a patient with a filum terminale hemangioblastoma

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Cauda equina redundant nerve roots are associated to the degree of spinal stenosis and to spondylolisthesis / Associação entre a presença de raízes redundantes na cauda equina e a área seccional do saco dural avaliada por meio de ressonância magnética

To evaluate the association of redundant nerve roots of cauda equina (RNRCE) with the degree of lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) and with spondylolisthesis. Method After Institutional Board approval, 171 consecutive patients were retrospectively enrolled, 105 LSS patients and 66 patients without stenosis. The dural sac cross-sectional area (CSA) was measured on T2w axial MRI at the level of L2-3, L3-4 and L4-5 intervertebral discs. Two blinded radiologists classified cases as exhibiting or not RNRCE in MRI. Intra- and inter-observer reproducibility was assessed. Results RNRCE were associated with LSS. RRNCE was more frequent when maximum stenosis<55 mm2. Substantial intra- observer agreement and moderate inter-observer agreement were obtained in the classification of RNRCE. Spondylolisthesis was identified in 27 patients and represented increased risk for RRNCE. Conclusion LSS is a risk factor for RNRCE, especially for dural sac CSA<55 mm2. LSS and spondylolisthesis are independent risk factors for RNRCE. .

Avaliar associação entre raízes nervosas redundantes da cauda eqüina (RNRCE) com grau de estenose do canal lombar (ECL) e espondilolistese. Método Após aprovação do Comitê de Ética, 171 pacientes foram selecionados retrospectivamente, 105 com ECL e 66 sem estenose. Foram realizadas mensurações da área seccional do saco dural em imagens axiais de RM ponderadas em T2 em L2/L3, L3/L4 e L4/L5. Presença ou não de RRNCE foi classificada de forma independente por dois radiologistas, às cegas. Concordância intra e inter-observador foi analisada. Resultados RNRCE foi associada à ECL e foi mais freqüente quando a máxima estenose encontrada foi <55mm2. Houve grande concordância intra-observador e moderada inter-observador na classificação das RRNCE. Espondilolistese foi identificada em 27 pacientes e representou maior risco para desenvolvimento de RNRCE. Conclusão ECL é fator de risco para RNRCE, especialmente com áreas seccionais <55mm2. ECL e espondilolistese representam fatores de risco independentes para desenvolvimento de RNRCE. .

Paraganglioma de cauda equina / Paraganglioma of the cauda equina

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Paraganglioma del filum terminal como causa de síndrome de cauda equina / Cauda equina syndrome caused by paraganglioma of the filum terminale

Los paragangliomas son tumores neuroendocrinos originados a partir de células que migran de la cresta neural. Su localización es diversa, siendo frecuentes encabeza, cuello, mediastino o retroperitoneo. Su crecimiento en la región del filum terminal es muy poco frecuente. Presentamos el caso de una paciente que debuta con un cuadro agudo de cauda equina. Describimos en detalle el proceso diagnóstico, las características radiológicas, el tratamiento y las propiedades macro y microscópicas de este tumor (AU)

Paragangliomas are neuroendocrine tumors that originate from cells migrating from the neural crest. They have a diverse localizations, and are common in the head, neck, mediastinum or retroperitoneum. Their growth in the filum terminale region is very infrequent. We report the case of a patient who suffered an acute cauda equina syndrome. We give a detailed description of the diagnostic process, radiological characteristics, treatment and the macro and microscopic properties of this tumor (AU)

Tumores primarios de médula espinal y cauda equina en adultos en el Hospital Nacional Edgardo Rebagliati Martins 2007-2011 / Primary tumors of spinal cord and cauda equina in adults at the National Hospital Edgardo Rebagliati Martins 2007-2011

PLANTEAMIENTO DEL PROBLEMA: Los tumores primarios de médula espinal representa 2 por ciento al 4 por ciento de todas las neoplasias del SNC, los tumores son generalmente los neurinomas y los meningiomas, en ellos la resección completa puede lograr frecuentemente la curación, la problemática sin embargo es la falta de estudios clínicos en general para los tumores del SNC y en particular para los tumores de la médula espinal. El objetivo de nuestro estudio es conocer la incidencia actual de tumores primarios de la médula espinal y cauda equina en adultos del servicio de columna vertebral y nervios periféricos del HNERM. Metodología: El presente estudio es de tipo retrospectivo, transversal y descriptivo, de los pacientes con el diagnóstico anátomo patológico de tumor primario de médula espinal y cauda equina, atendidos en el servicio de columna vertebral y nervios periféricos del HNERM, desde el 1 de Enero 2007 al 31 de Diciembre del 2011. Resultados: La incidencia de tumores primarios de médula espinal y cauda equina fue de 1.99 por ciento de los tumores del sistema nervioso central, el más frecuentemente fue neurinoma con el 41.46 por ciento, seguidos de los meningioma con el 34.15 por ciento, juntos representan más del 75 por ciento, seguidos de los astrocitomas con el 12.19 por ciento, predomina en el sexo femenino con el 65.85 por ciento, siendo el grupo etario más afectado entre 35-50 años, promedio 48.9 años, el tiempo de enfermedad al ingreso fue principalmente más de 9 meses 48.78 por ciento, se localizan más en el segmento torácico 51.23 por ciento, presentando al momento de ingreso dolor axial o radicular y debilidad de extremidades, con hipoestesia debajo del nivel de compresión y paraparesia, el procedimiento quirúrgico más frecuente fue laminectomía y resección microquirúrgica completa del tumor 78.05 por ciento, logrando función motora aceptable en el 70 por ciento, para neurinomas y meningiomas, a los 6 a 12 meses post quirúrgicos. Discusión: La...

Fatty filum with different histological features. Case report

Split cord malformation and fatty filum are completely different clinical entities and thought to arise via different pathophysiologies. Recognition of these distinct lesions in the same patient is important for appropriate diagnosis and management. A 3 year-old boy presented with skin lesions and mild leg weakness suggestive of spinal malformation. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed type II split cord malformation at T12-L1, syringomyelia at T8-T10 levels associated with tethered cord and fatty filum terminale. The patient underwent a T12-L1 laminotomy for the removal of fibrous band between the 2 hemicords and L4-L5 laminotomy for transection of the fatty filum. Histopathological examination of the filum confirmed the presence of bone, fat, and ciliated epithelial cells associated with meningothelial proliferation in the same specimen. We report an unusual case of type II split cord malformation coexisting with a fatty filum which have different histological patterns. To the best of our knowledge, this histological appearance of a fatty filum has not yet been reported and this raises the question of a possible associative or causative relationship between these distinct pathologies. (AU)

La diastematomielia y el filum lipomatoso son entidades clínicas completamente diferentes y cuya patogenia se considera diferente. El reconocimiento de estas lesiones en el mismo paciente es importante para el diagnóstico y manejo apropiados. Un niño de 3 años de edad se presentó con marcas cutáneas y moderada debilidad en piernas sugestivos de malformación espinal. La resonancia magnética reveló duplicación de la médula de tipo II y siringomielia T12-L1, que se asoció con anclaje medular y filum terminale lipomatoso. El paciente fue sometido a una laminotomía T12-L1 para la eliminación de la banda fibrosa entre las dos hemimédulas y laminotomía L4-L5 con sección del filum lipomatoso. El estudio anatomopatológico del filum confirmó la presencia de hueso, grasa, y células epiteliales ciliadas, que se asociaron con proliferación meningotelial. Informamos un caso excepcional de diastematomielia tipo II que coexiste con un filum lipomatoso con patrón histológico diferente. En nuestra opinion, este patrón histológico correspondiente al filum lipomatoso no ha sido documentado previamente, y ello suscita cuestiones sobre una posible relación, sea de asociación o cusal, entre estas dos patologías (AU)

Disfunción eréctil de origen neurológico / Neurogenic erectile dysfunction

La disfunción eréctil (DE) de causa neurológica, se produce como consecuencia de las alteraciones de las vías nerviosas tanto autonómicas como somáticas o la combinación de ambas y de los componentes cerebrales que inducen la erección. Esta revisión intenta explicar los mecanismos fisiopatológicos de las más frecuentes alteraciones neurológicas que causan disfunción eréctil y trastornos sexuales(AU)

Neurogenic erectile dysfunction is a consequence of alterations in neural pathways, autonomic, somatic, the combination of both or brain components that induce erection. This review aims to explain the physiopathological mechanisms of the most frequent neurological alterations causing erectile dysfunction and sexual disorders(AU)

Ependimomas del filum terminal. Análisis de 20 casos consecutivos / Filum terminale ependymomas. Analysis of a serie of 20 consecutive cases

Objetivos. Analizar las características clínicas,radiológicas y los resultados quirúrgicos de una serie de ependimomas del filum terminal. Pacientes y método. Se estudia retrospectivamente 20 pacientes con 21 ependimomas del filum terminal tratados durante un período de 21 años (1988-2008).Todos los pacientes fueron diagnosticados con resonancia magnética e intervenidos quirúrgicamente. Resultados. La relación varón-mujer fue de 1:1.5 yla media de edad al diagnóstico de 44.8 años (rango 15-64). El primer síntoma fue dolor radicular (12 casos) y lumbalgia en los 8 restantes, con una duración mediade la sintomatología antes del diagnostico de 8.7 años(rango 0.6-32). Todos los pacientes fueron intervenidos quirúrgicamente realizándose resección completa de 17 tumores y subtotal de 4. Histológicamente 20 tumoresfueron ependimomas mixopapilares (grado I ) y un caso grado II. El período de seguimiento fue de 8 años (rango1-18).Conclusiones. Los ependimomas del filum terminal, son tumores de crecimiento lento con una mayor incidencia en adultos jóvenes. La forma de presentación más habitual es con dolor lumbar con un largo tiempo de evolución. Aunque la mayoría son tumores de bajo grado histológico, tienen una especial tendencia a crecer y las recidivas locales no son raras (AU)

Objective. To analyze the clinical, radiological and surgical outcome of a series of filum terminale ependymomas. Patients and methods. This retrospective study involved 20 patients with 21 ependymomas of the filumterminale encountered during a 21 year period (1988-2008). All patients were diagnosed using MRI and surgicallytreated. Results. The male: female ratio was 1:1.5, and the mean age at diagnosis was 44.8 years (range 15-64).First symptom included radicular pain (12 cases) and lumbar pain in the other 8 cases, with average symptom duration of 8.7 years (range 0-6-32). All patients underwent open biopsy, seventeen tumours received gross-total resection and 4 received subtotal resection. Histologically, 20 tumours were myxopapillary ependymomas(grade I) and 1 case a grade II ependymoma.The mean follow-up period was 8 years (range 1-18years).Conclusions. Filum terminale ependimomas are slow growing tumours of the cauda equina with a highincidence in young adults. The most common presentation is with low back pain long time evolution. Although ependymomas of the filum terminale are thought to be benign, local recurrence is not uncommon (AU)

Ependimoma de células gigantes de la cauda equina. A propósito de un caso / Giant cell ependymoma of the cauda equina. A case report

Los ependimomas constituyen la neoplasia más frecuente de la médula espinal. Se desarrollan a partir de células que revisten el canal ependimario. Un subtipo infrecuente es el ependimoma de células gigantes, del que se han descrito solo 8 casos en dicha localización. Describimos el caso de un varón de 42 años con lumbalgia de varios meses de evolución. La RMN mostró un tumor bien circunscrito intradural en L1, que se resecó en su totalidad. El estudio histológico demostró proliferación fusocelular de distribución perivascular con formación de pseudorrosetas y moderada atipia citológica con células gigantes multinucleadas. El estudio inmunohistoquímico confirmó el diagnóstico de ependimoma de células gigantes(AU)

Ependymomas are the most frequent neoplasms of the spinal cord, arising from the cells lining the spinal canal. Among them, giant cell ependymoma is a rare subtype with only 8 cases previously reported to date. We present a further case in a 42-year-old man who presented with a history of lower back pain for several months. The MRI revealed a well-circumscribed interdural mass at L1. The tumour was totally resected and histologically it was seen to be comprised of a proliferation of fusiform cells arranged in a perivascular pattern with pseudorosettes and cytologic atypia with multinucleated giant cells. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the diagnosis of giant cell ependymoma(AU)

Meningioma de cels claras. Una rara variante de meningioma / Clear cell meningioma. A rare variant of meningioma

Presentamos en nuestro trabajo, los hallazgos morfológicos e inmunohistoquímicos de carácter diagnóstico observados en un meningioma de células claras localizado a nivel de la cauda equina en un paciente de 25 años. El tumor mostró un patrón morfológico de predominio nodular en el que destacaban las células de citoplasma claro, positivas para la tinción de PAS. El hallazgo de áreas de aspecto meningoteliomatoso dentro del mismo tumor así como la inmunohistoquímica (positividad de las células tumorales para vimentina y EMA y negatividad para citoqueratinas, CD10, HMB-45 y proteína glial fibrilar ácida) permitió establecer un diagnóstico diferencial con otras neoplasias principalmente con las metástasis de carcinoma renal. De igual modo se comentan con brevedad las características de esta variante de meningioma de grado intermedio de malignidad (meningioma grado ii de la OMS)(AU)

The morphological and immunohistochemical findings of a clear cell meningioma found in the cauda equina of a 25 year old patient are reported. The tumour was predominately nodular with a marked presence of cells with clear cytoplasm which stained positively for PAS. The presence of meningoteliomatous areas in the tumour, together with the immunohistochemistry of the tumour cells (positivity for vimentin and EMA and negativity for cytokeratins, CD10, HMB45 and PGFA) were the diagnostic features that differentiated the tumour from other possible diagnoses, principally metastases from a renal carcinoma. The characteristics of this type of meningioma, which has an intermediate grade of malignancy (WHO grade ii meningioma) are discussed(AU)