Lombosciatique révélant un épendymome intramédullaire

Zeineb Alaya, Walid Osman

PAMJ. 2017; 26:171. Published 24 Mar 2017 | doi:10.11604/pamj.2017.26.171.11633

We here report the case of a 68-year old female patient presenting with inflammatory poorly systematized bilateral lumbosciatica, without vesico-sphincteric disorders or associated general symptoms evolving for 4 months. Physical exam showed gait with little steps with trunk anteflexion, disappearance of lumbar lordosis, lumbar spine stiffness, positive bilateral Lasègue's test and hyperactive osteotendinous reflexes in lower limbs without motor and sensory deficit or saddle block anesthesia. Laboratory tests did not show any inflammatory syndrome. Lumbar spine X-rays were normal. Given the abnormal clinical picture, spinal MRI was performed which showed oval intracanalar mass behind L4 vertebral body, measuring 3 cm height with discrete hypersignal on T1 (A) and with hypersignal on T2 (B), enhanced after gadolinium administration and containing superior polar cystic component. The patient underwent tumor resection in orthopaedics. Histological examination of the surgical specimen revealed myxopapillary ependymomas.
Corresponding author
Zeineb Alaya, Service de Rhumatologie, Hôpital Farhat Hached, avenue Ibn El Jazzar, 4000, Sousse, Tunisie (zeineb_a@hotmail.fr)


The Pan African Medical Journal (ISSN: 1937-8688) is a subsidiary of the Pan African Medical Journal. The contents of this journal is intended exclusively for professionals in the medical, paramedical and public health and other health sectors.

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