Ependymomas accounts for about 2%–6% of CNS and 60%–70% of spinal cord tumors. Several histological patterns of these neoplasms are well known, but little attention has been devoted to a variant composed of giant cells. In spite of apparently “worrisome” histology, giant cell ependymoma seems to be a neoplasm with a relatively good prognosis. This report presents a case of giant cell ependym...

De novo glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) of the spine is rare. We present a patient with a unique GBM arising within the conus and radiographically mimicking a filum terminale ependymoma. During surgery the lesion was notable for its highly vascular and diffuse infiltration of the surrounding spinal cord parenchyma. The operative goals were altered to account for the unexpected pathology. The trea...

Primary tethered cord syndrome is defined as low placement of the spinal cord and thickened filum terminale with associated anomalies. This definition excludes anomalies concomitant with overt myelomeningocele and spinal cord tethering secondary to myelomeningocele repair. Embryologically, the primary tethered cord syndrome is an entirely different entity from overt myelomeningocele and associa...