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lipomyelomeningocele
Epidemiology:
- rare
Pathology:
- neurological deterioration secondary to an inherent tethered spinal cord
- a subcutaneous lipoma in the lumbar or sacral region extends through a defect in the lumbodorsal fascia, vertebral neural arch, & dura, attaching to an elongated & tethered spinal cord
Clinical manifestations:
- the most common presenting symptom is a lamboscaral lipoma
- other skin lesions are often present
- hairy nevus
- skin dimples
- cutaneous hemangiomas
- subcutanous lumbosacral lipoma present at birth
- 1/2 of patients are neurologically intact
Radiology:
- in utero fetal ultrasound
- magnetic resonance imaging is useful in demonstrating a fatty mass & cord tethering
Management:
- neurosurgery
General
neural tube defect
lipoma; adipocyte neoplasm
References
- Sarris CE et al
Medscape Oncology.
Lipomyelomeningocele: Pathology, Treatment, and Outcomes.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/772263