Abstract
Objective
Cervical myelomeningoceles (CMMC) are a less common but distinct subgroup of myelomeningoceles. Their embryology and clinical characteristics vary from the more common thoracolumbar variant. Only a few small series have been published addressing this lesion in the literature with the largest one of them addressing nine patients. The authors present one of the largest series of cervical myelomeningoceles, review their embryology, clinical features, and their management strategies.
Methods
This study included all the children who were managed for cervical myelomeningocele between Jan 2001 to July 2006 at our center.
Results
There were a total of ten children (five boys and five girls) operated on for cervical myelomeningoceles. The ages ranged between 2 months to 14 months. Neurological examination was normal in majority of the children with absence of gross orthopedic deformity in all the children. Three patients had associated hydrocephalus, two had Chiari malformation, and four of them had a syrinx. Surgical excision of the sac was performed for all.
Conclusion
Cystic dysraphisms of the cervical differ embryologically, clinically, and structurally from thoracolumbar meningomyelocele and have a more favorable outcome. A good pre operative evaluation is recommended to assess any associated anomalies and identify the internal structures. Surgery excision of these lesions with intradural exploration of the sac to release any potential adhesion bands as well as other associated anomalies is recommended.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Altman NR, Altman DH (1987) MR imaging of spinal dysraphism. Am J Neuroradiol 8:533–538
Delashaw JB, Park TS, Cail WM, Vollmer DG (1987) Cervical meningocele and associated spinal anomalies. Childs Nerv Syst 3:165–169
Habibi Z, Nejat F, Tajik P, Kazmi SS, Kajbafzadeh AM (2006) Cervical myelomeningocele. Neurosurgery 58:1168–1175
Jaeger HJ, Schmitz-Stolbrink A, Mathias KD (1997) Cervical diastematomyelia and syringohydromyelia in a myelomeningocele patient. Eur Radiol 7:477–479
May D, Rilliet B, Berney J (1992) Cervical meningocele and meningomyelocystocele. Apropos of 4 cases. Neurochirurgie 38:347–352
Pang D, Dias MS (1993) Cervical myelomeningoceles. Neurosurgery 33:363–372
Pang D, Dias MS, Ahab-Barmada M (1992) Split cord malformation. Part I: A unified theory of embryogenesis for double spinal cord malformations. Neurosurgery 31:451–480
Rawanduzy A, Murali R (1991) Cervical spine diastematomyelia in adulthood. Neurosurgery 28:459–461
Salomao JF, Cavalheiro S, Matushita H, Leibinger RD, Bellas AR, Vanazzi E, de Souza LA, Nardi AG (2006) Cystic spinal dysraphism of the cervical and upper thoracic region. Childs Nerv Syst 22:234–242
Simpson RK Jr, Rose JE (1987) Cervical diastematomyelia. Report of a case and review of a rare congenital anomaly. Arch Neurol 44:331–335
Steinbok P, Cochrane DD (1991) The nature of congenital posterior cervical or cervicothoracic midline cutaneous mass lesions—report of eight cases. J Neurosurg 75:206–212
Vogter DM, Culberson JL, Schochet SS, Gabriele OF, Kaufman HH (1987) High spinal dysraphism. Case report of a complex cervical meningocele. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 84:136–139
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kasliwal, M.K., Dwarakanath, S. & Mahapatra, A.K. Cervical meningomyelocele—an institutional experience. Childs Nerv Syst 23, 1291–1293 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-007-0387-5
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-007-0387-5