Turkish Neurosurgery 2004 , Vol 14 , Num 3-4
Ependymoma of Filum Terminale Mimicking Lumbar Disc Herniation
Ahmet MENKÜ, R. Kemal KOÇ, Bülent TUCER, Onur KULAKSIZOĞLU, Hidayet AKDEMİR
Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri,Turkey A patient with ependymoma of filum terminale which was initially diagnosed as a lumbar disc herniation is presented. Compression of spinal nerve roots by an intradural mass due to ependymoma of filum terminale is a rare condition and should be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of lumbar disc herniation. The normal postoperative appearance is important to recognize because a number of changes occur normally during the healing period. The differential diagnosis between an epidural scar or recurrent disc herniation and a spinal mass can usually be made with magnetic resonance imaging. In this study, the crucial role of magnetic resonance imaging with intravenous contrast in the differential diagnosis is also emphasized. Keywords : Ependymoma, filum terminale, lumbar disc disease, magnetic resonance imaging, spinal neoplasm
Corresponding author : Ahmet Menkü, menkua@erciyes.edu.tr