Spinal neurenteric cyst presenting in infancy with chronic fever and acute myelopathy

Neurology. 2000 May 23;54(10):2011-5. doi: 10.1212/wnl.54.10.2011.

Abstract

The authors describe the clinical, radiologic, and pathologic features of a neonatal spinal neurenteric cyst (NC) presenting with long-lasting fever and acute myelopathy, and compare this observation with other infants reported in the literature. This observation shows that NC must be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute myelopathy with persistent fever in infancy. Fever is attributed to degenerative changes in the NC, triggering inflammatory cell infiltration and tumor necrosis factor alpha secretion.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Consanguinity
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Fever of Unknown Origin / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Neural Tube Defects / diagnosis*
  • Neural Tube Defects / genetics
  • Neural Tube Defects / pathology
  • Spinal Cord Compression / diagnosis*
  • Spinal Cord Compression / genetics
  • Spinal Cord Compression / pathology
  • Thoracic Vertebrae / abnormalities*
  • Thoracic Vertebrae / pathology