True myelomeningocele with exposed placode: Unusual presentation of cervical myelomeningocele: Case illustration

摘要

Midline cystic lesions in cervical area are quite different in structure and cord function from typical myelomeningoceles (MMCs) occurring in lower spinal levels. Previously we have published the largest series of cervical MMCs from a single center. We referred to these lesions as MMCs because they all contained nervous tissue, and we classified them into 2 subgroups—fibroneurovascular stalk and myelocystocele.1 Some authors have recognized them as syringoceles, syringomyeloceles, or limited dorsal myeloschisis.Although cervical MMCs contain neural tissue inside the sac, they differ from MMCs in lower locations in that preservation of the neural tissue is recommended. Recently we encountered a case that was markedly different from previous ones in general and closely resembled MMCs in the lower levels. This report was written to consider an exception to the rule explained in our previous manuscript and to add some surgical points to our previous recommendations.