Article
Conus medullaris Ependymoma presenting clinically as subarachnoid hemorrhage. Case report and review of literature
Klinische Manifestation eines Conus-medullaris-Ependymoms als Subarachnoidalblutung. Fallbericht und Literaturrecherche
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Published: | April 11, 2007 |
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Objective: Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) due to spinal ependymoma is very rare. We report a 37-year-old man who presented with an acute onset of headache and leg pain.
Methods: This patient presented with typical clinical signs of SAH, and lumbar puncture confirmed SAH. Cerebral angiography was negative and further diagnostic work-up revealed an ependymoma of the conus medullaris as source of the hemorrhage. A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted.
Results: The ependymoma was resected without any sequelae. In the English and German literature, only 17 cases of SAH due to a spinal ependymoma are reported since 1958.
Conclusions: Spinal ependymoma presenting as SAH is very rare. Therefore, in cases of negative diagnostic findings for cerebral aneurysms or malformations this aetiology should be considered and work-up of the spinal axis completed.