• I-Chang Chang.
• Institute of Medicine, Chung-Shan Medical University and Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chung-Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. ic40249@ms34.hinet.net
• Spine. 2003 Dec 15;28(24):E515-8.

Study DesignTo report an unusual presentation of a thoracic neurenteric cyst.ObjectivesTo increase knowledge about the pathogenesis and treatment of intraspinal neurenteric cyst.Summary Of Background DataIntraspinal neurenteric cysts (enterogenous cysts) are very rare congenital cysts of endodermal origin. The diagnosis usually is established during the first or second decade of life. Those cysts are frequently associated with vertebral or spinal cord anomalies and dual malformation with mediastinal or abdominal cysts.MethodsA 50-year-old man presented with 1 year of left midthoracic intercostal pain after chest compression injury. Several months before admission, he felt left lower extremity weakness with right-side numbness. Plain radiography of thoracic spine was normal while MRI showed a cystic mass at T7, T8 level ventral to the spinal cord with cord compression. The spinal cord was displaced to the posterior more to the right side, mimicking hemisection of the left side of the spinal cord.ResultsThoracic laminectomy was performed and the intraspinal cyst was removed. The pathology report indicated neuroenteric cyst. The postoperative course was uneventful and the signs of myelopathy improved immediately. The patient appeared well after 2 years of follow-up.ConclusionsIntraspinal neuroenteric cyst without plain vertebral anomaly may occur after trauma in middle aged adult life with Brown-Sequard syndrome. Successful treatment requires early recognition of those cysts and their associated abnormalities.

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