Primary Myxopapillary Ependymoma of the Medulla: Case Report

OBJECTIVE: Myxopapillary ependymoma is a subclassification of ependymoma that is thought to be nearly exclusive to the conus medullaris or filum terminale. Primary intracerebral or brainstem myxopapillary ependymomas are rare. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: An 8-year-old child presented with a 5-month history of nausea and vomiting and a 1-week history of headache. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a nodular mass in the medulla with an associated cyst extending into the fourth ventricle. INTERVENTION: A suboccipital craniotomy was performed, and a gross total resection of the lesion and cyst was achieved. Histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of myxopapillary ependymoma. A discussion of other reported cases of extraspinal myxopapillary ependymomas is presented. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of a case of myxopapillary ependymoma, confirmed by histology, in the medulla. Although rare, myxopapillary ependymomas outside of the filum terminale do exist.