These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Congenital spinal lipomatous malformations: part I--Classification.
    Author: Muthukumar N.
    Journal: Acta Neurochir (Wien); 2009 Mar; 151(3):179-88; discussion 197. PubMed ID: 19240974.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: Congenital spinal lipomatous malformations constitute a diverse group of lesions. There is considerable confusion in the literature regarding their terminology and a proper classification is long overdue. The first part of this two part report sets out a proposed classification scheme. METHODS: On the basis of this author's experience with 80 patients with a congenital spinal lipomatous malformation treated over a 10 year period, a new classification is proposed. The proposed classification divides congenital spinal lipomatous malformations into two broad groups: 1. Lipomas without dural defect and, 2. Lipomas with dural defect. Within each group, there are several subtypes. These two broad groups differ from one another in their embryology, clinical presentation, operative findings, complications and prognosis FINDINGS: Group I consists of Lipomas without dural defect. Included in this group are: Filum lipoma, caudal lipoma without dural defect, and intramedullary lipoma. Group II consists of lipomas with dural defect. Included in this group are: dorsal lipoma, caudal lipoma with dural defect, transitional lipoma, lipomyelocele, and lipomyelomeningocele. The definitions of the various subtypes and radiological and operative findings of all these lesions are described. CONCLUSIONS: Congenital spinal lipomatous malformations constitute a wide spectrum of lesions ranging from relatively simple lipomas of the filum terminale to complex malformations. These lesions differ from one another in their embryology, clinical presentation, operative strategies, complications and prognosis. Failure to differentiate between the different forms of congenital spinal lipomatous malformations may lead to inaccurate assumptions regarding prognosis and inappropriate management. The proposed classification seeks to address these issues.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]