Polyneuretic paraparesis revealing an intramedullary ependymoma

Abstract

Spinal tumors are rare; intramedullary tumors are uncommon among these lesions, and occur in only 10% of cases in adults. Ependymoma is the most frequent histological type (40-60%). We report the case of a 22-year-old girl, presenting with local back pain, ascendant paresthesia, a progressive flask paraparesis, and a vesical globe. The clinical examination concluded in a mild motor weakness with areflexia of both patellar and Achilles tendons. The diagnosis of intramedullary tumor was made on MRI. The radiological and the macroscopic aspects evoked an ependymoma; the diagnosis was histologically confirmed after surgery (myxopapillary ependymoma) with a favorable evolution.