EXTRAMEDULLARY intrathecal granuloma formation is a rare complication of morphine administration via implanted drug delivery systems. We present a unique case of a granuloma adherent to the conus medullaris presenting as cauda equina syndrome. Practitioners should not assume that implantation of intrathecal catheters with their tips located at or below the conus medullaris will eliminate all ri...

We report a rare case of schwannoma of the conus medullaris. A 38-year-old female presented with pain and numbness in her lower limbs. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed a heterogenous tumour of the conus medullaris. A subtotal resection was performed and histology confirmed schwannoma. The literature regarding these rare tumours, and their cell of origin, is reviewed.

We present a new classification for the genus Conus sensu lato (family Conidae), based on molecular phylogenetic analyses of 329 species. This classification departs from both the traditional classification in only one genus and from a recently proposed shell- and radula-based classification scheme that separates members of this group into five families and 115 genera. Roughly 140 genus-group n...

The conus coronary artery has been reported to arise independently from the aorta in approximately 45 per cent of hearts. In this study, 305 necropsy specimens were examined to determine the origin of the conus coronary artery and variations in patterns of origin with respect to age. Three patterns were recognised: 1, in which the conus artery arose from the aorta independently of the right cor...

A 1-year and 11-month- old English Cocker Spaniel was evaluated for clinical signs of progressive right pelvic limb lameness and urinary incontinence. Neurological examination was suggestive of a lesion localized to the L4-S3 spinal cord segments. No abnormalities were seen on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed in the dog in dorsal recumbency and the hips in a neutral position and the c...

The marine environment presents much danger, specifically in regards to the numerous venomous inhabitants within tropical and subtropical waters. The toxins from one such group of venomous marine snails, commonly referred to as 'cone snails', have been well documented in causing human fatalities. Yet information regarding medical treatment for cone snail envenomation is limited and poorly acces...

PURPOSE In the current report, we describe a case of an extramedullary ependymoma involving a lumbar nerve root near conus medullaris. Spinal ependymomas commonly present as intramedullary tumors in the cervical or thoracic cord or as tumors arising from the conus medullaris or the filum terminale. In this case, we showed an extramedullary conus ependymoma involving a lumbar nerve root with fil...