In two cases of mobile tumours in the lumbar spinal canal there was difficulty and delay in clinical and radiologic diagnosis because the early symptoms did not correspond to any particular dermatome. Myelography and computed tomography (CT) are the initial diagnostic procedures used in most institutions, even where magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is available. The purpose of these 2 case repo...

Intradural spinal tumours, although relatively uncommon, can be diagnostically challenging, and often result in significant morbidity. They can be subdivided according to their cell of origin and whether they are within the cord (intramedullary) or intradural but extramedullary in location. The differential diagnosis for masses of the cauda equina region is often considered separately. Addition...

Intramedullary epidermoid cysts of the spinal cord are rare tumours, especially those not associated with spinal dysraphism. Around 60 cases have been reported in the literature. Of these, only 10 cases have had magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies. Here, we report a case of isolated intramedullary epidermoid tumour at D2-D3 level. The etiology, pathology, clinical features, MRI characteris...

Thoracic chordomas are very rare malignant tumours originating from notochordal remnants. These tumours develop within a vertebral body and enlarge involving the mediastinal compartment. Because of their slow-growing attitude, they become symptomatic only when they invade or compress the spinal cord and/or mediastinal organs. We present a rare case of a thoracic spine chordoma presenting with i...

Introduction Brain and spinal cord tumours are increasingly being diagnosed in Africa and other developing countries as more centres acquire more sophisticated and less invasive diagnostic facilities. Improvement in the number and expertise of medical personnel also plays a significant role. In addition, advances in anaesthesia and surgical techniques have allowed for increased survival of chil...

AIM The study aimed to examine the position of three-dimensional (3D) neurosonography and the advantages and disadvantages of ultrasound-based neuronavigation in spinal cord tumour surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS During the period July, 2007- February 2011, 28 patients with spinal cord tumours were operated in our neurosurgical clinic. All patients underwent intraoperative 3D neurosonography by...

Dermoid cysts of the brain are not uncommon, and as many as 200 dermoid and epidermoid cysts found throughout the central nervous system have been reported by Rand and Reeves (1943). However, epidermoid and dermoid tumours of the spinal canal together with teratoid tumours, with or without communicating dermal sinuses, are of extreme rarity. Boldrey and Elvidge (1939) published a total of 43 ep...