Symptomatic thoracic ossification of the ligamentum flavum in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis: Report of a case and review

Background:

Thoracic spinal cord compression due to both ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) is rare.

Case Description:

A 33-year-old male with AS presented with a paraparesis attributed to MR documented T9-T10 OLF/stenosis. He was successfully managed with a decompressive laminectomy; this resulted in marked improvement of his deficit.

Conclusion:

Thoracic OLF and AS rarely contribute T9-T10 spinal cord compression that may be readily relieved with a decompressive laminectomy.

Anaplastic myxopapillary ependymoma of the sacrum: A case report

Background

Myxopapillary ependymoma (MPE) with anaplastic features is extremely rare. There are very few such case reports in the medical literature.

Case Description

A 23-year-old female presented with lower back pain, and both urinary and fecal dysfunction. The patient underwent gross total surgical excision of the MR documented expansile intrasacral tumor. The histology was compatible with a MPE containing anaplastic features.

Conclusion

The medical literature contains a few comparable cases of subcutaneous sacrococcygeal MPE with anaplastic components. Here, however, we have a young female with an anaplastic intrasacral MPE treated with gross total surgical excision.