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Journal of Pediatric Neurology 2018; 16(06): 404-407
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1639375
Case Report
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

A Neurenteric Cyst Presenting as a Brainstem Tumor: Imaging and Clinical Findings

Juan Domingo Ly
1   Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
,
Subramanian Subramanian
2   Department of Neuroradiology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
,
Stephanie Greene
3   Department of Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
,
Deepa Rajan
4   Division of Child Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
,
Julia Kofler
5   Division of Neuropathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
,
Giulio Zuccoli
2   Department of Neuroradiology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

07 December 2017

15 February 2018

Publication Date:
26 March 2018 (online)

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Abstract

An 11-year-old girl presented with vomiting, nystagmus, and ataxia. MRI showed a partially enhancing medulla oblongata lesion and an adjacent nonenhancing cystic exophytic lesion. An exophytic brainstem tumor was suspected. Histologically, the lesion was identified as a neurenteric cyst (NC). On retrospective review, the NC was connected to the brainstem by a subtle sinus tract. This led to brainstem inflammation which reversed once the cyst was resected. We describe an unreported case of a patient with a NC at the craniocervical junction connected to the brainstem through a sinus tract and discuss the possible embryological abnormality and imaging features.

Keywords

neurenteric cyst - brainstem exophytic tumor - craniovertebral junction - MRI - children

Ethical Approval

Formal consent is not required for this type of study.


 

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