A rare case of spinal dumbbell tanycytic ependymoma

Study Design.: Case report. OBJECTIVE:: To report an extremely rare case of spinal dumbbell-type tanycyticependymoma. Summary of Background Data.: Only two previous cases of a dumbbell-type tanycyticependymoma in the spinal cordhave been reported. Methods.: A 40-year-old female presented with low back pain and numbness of the left leg. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a dumbbell tumor at the Th10-11 level that compressed the spinal cord extensively. The diagnosis of extradural dumbell spinal tumor was made, and a total tumor excision was performed with a thoracic 10-11 laminectomy. Results.: After surgery, the patient's low back pain and numbness disappeared. Detailed immunohistological examinations confirmed the diagnosis of tanycyticependymoma. At 16 months, there was no evidence of tumor recurrence and no further treatment was needed. Conclusion.: A rare case of spinal dumbbell-type tanycyticependy-moma was presented. Detailed histologic examinations are essential to differentiate tanycyticependymoma from other tumors such as schwannoma and pilocyticastrocytoma.