Whorling Sclerosing Ependymoma of the Cervical Spinal Cord Presenting Tanycytic Histopathologic Features: A Rare Case Report

Int J Surg Pathol. 2023 Apr;31(2):239-246. doi: 10.1177/10668969221099629. Epub 2022 May 25.

Abstract

Tanycytic ependymoma is a neuroectodermal tumor that arises from ependymoglial cells or tanycytes. It is highly uncommon. We reported a 34-year-old man who was diagnosed with intradural-intramedullary tanycytic ependymoma, located at the level of C4-5 who had a 9-months history of neck pain and left arm pain, and numbness on fingers. One month prior to presentation, his left arm numbness and paresthesia deteriorated. The lesion was removed totally by C4, C5 hemilaminoplasty. The histologic pattern of this lesion was consisted of fascicles forming nebula-like whorling structures. Because of these structures, tanycytic ependymoma should be taken into consideration in the differential diagnosis of a whorling-sclerosing variant of meningiomas.

Keywords: cervical hemilaminoplasty; hemilaminotomy; intramedullary tumor; tanycytic ependymoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cervical Cord* / pathology
  • Ependymoglial Cells / pathology
  • Ependymoma* / diagnosis
  • Ependymoma* / pathology
  • Ependymoma* / surgery
  • Humans
  • Hypesthesia / pathology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Spinal Cord Neoplasms* / diagnosis
  • Spinal Cord Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Spinal Cord Neoplasms* / surgery