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Lipomyelocele with tethered cord

Case contributed by Ammar Haouimi
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Lipomatous mass at the lower lumbar region.

Patient Data

Age: 1 year
Gender: Male

Posterior midline lipomatous mass, containing neural tissue (placode-lipoma), extending into the spinal canal through a closed spinal dysraphism with low lying cord at L3-L4 and terminal spinal cord syrinx. The filum terminale is attached to the intraspinal fatty component.

Normal position of the cerebellar tonsils.

No associated vertebral congenital abnormalities.

Case Discussion

MRI features of a lipomyelocele with tethered cord.

Lipomyelocele also known as lipomyeloschisis ​is considered as one of the most common closed spinal dysraphism.

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