Spinal neurenteric cyst
Updates to Article Attributes
Spinal neurenteric cysts are a rare type of foregut duplication cyst, accounting for ~1% of all spinal cord tumours. They are usually classified as spinal or intracranial and are associated with vertebral or CNS abnormalities respectively.
Pathology
Neurenteric cysts result from incomplete resorption of the neurenteric canal.
Location
The intraspinal cysts are usually intradural extramedullary (80-90%) 4 and ventral in location 5. They most commonly occur in the thoracic region (~40%).
Associations
-
vertebral anomalies like Klippel-Feil syndrome, hemivertebra
and, butterfly vertebra, scoliosis, split cord and spina bifida 5,6
Radiographic features
CT
The cyst is seen as a well-defined hypoattenuating lesion which may show soft-tissue attenuation.
On CT myelography, the cyst does not opacify with intrathecal contrast. However, larger cysts may cause obstruction to the CSF flow; in such cases, intrathecal contrast material forms meniscus shape (meniscus sign) 5.
MRI
It is the investigation of choice and the appearance depends on the variable protein content:
- T1: variable signal intensity
- T2: variable signal intensity
Treatment and prognosis
These lesions can recur and hence MRI is also used for follow up.
-<p><strong>Spinal neurenteric cysts</strong> are a rare type of <a href="/articles/foregut-duplication-cyst">foregut duplication cyst</a>, accounting for ~1% of all spinal cord tumours. They are usually classified as spinal or intracranial and are associated with vertebral or CNS abnormalities respectively. </p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>Neurenteric cysts result from incomplete resorption of the <a title="Neurenteric canal of Kovalevsky" href="/articles/neurenteric-canal-of-kovalevsky-1">neurenteric canal</a>. </p><h5>Location</h5><p>The intraspinal cysts are usually intradural extramedullary (80-90%) <sup>4</sup> and ventral in location <sup>5</sup>. They most commonly occur in the thoracic region (~40%).</p><h5>Associations</h5><ul><li>-<a href="/articles/vertebral-anomalies">vertebral anomalies</a> like <a href="/articles/klippel-feil-syndrome-3">Klippel-Feil syndrome</a>, <a href="/articles/hemivertebra">hemivertebra</a> and <a href="/articles/spina-bifida">spina bifida</a> <sup>5,6</sup>- +<p><strong>Spinal neurenteric cysts</strong> are a rare type of <a href="/articles/foregut-duplication-cyst">foregut duplication cyst</a>, accounting for ~1% of all spinal cord tumours. They are usually classified as spinal or intracranial and are associated with vertebral or CNS abnormalities respectively. </p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>Neurenteric cysts result from incomplete resorption of the <a href="/articles/neurenteric-canal-of-kovalevsky-1">neurenteric canal</a>. </p><h5>Location</h5><p>The intraspinal cysts are usually intradural extramedullary (80-90%) <sup>4</sup> and ventral in location <sup>5</sup>. They most commonly occur in the thoracic region (~40%).</p><h5>Associations</h5><ul><li>
- +<a href="/articles/vertebral-anomalies">vertebral anomalies</a> like <a href="/articles/klippel-feil-syndrome-3">Klippel-Feil syndrome</a>, <a href="/articles/hemivertebra">hemivertebra</a>, <a title="Butterfly vertebra" href="/articles/butterfly-vertebra">butterfly vertebra</a>, <a title="Scoliosis" href="/articles/scoliosis">scoliosis</a>, <a title="Split cord malformation" href="/articles/diastematomyelia">split cord</a> and <a href="/articles/spina-bifida">spina bifida</a> <sup>5,6</sup>