Analysis of the co-existed nervous system anomalies in children with meningomyelocele / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To analyze the categories of co-existed nervous system anomalies in children with meningomyelocele in order to consummate the treating strategy for meningomyelocele.Methods Sixty-nine children who had complete clinical data diagnosed as meningomyelocele in Department of Pediatric Surgery,Peking University First Hospital from Jan.2005 to Jun.2013,were retrospectively analyzed.Preoperative spinal MRI was routinely performed.Ultrasonagraphy,CT,MRI or combination of the 2 measures were adopted to evaluate the brain.Microscopically excision of the sac,exploration of the spinal canal,brisement of the tethered cord and meningomyelocele repair were routine operation procedures.Other lesions detected during operation were treated accordingly.MRI findings and intraoperative findings were also compared.Results Preoperative spinal MRI found 59 cases of cone bit,24 cases of syringomyelia,20 cases of mild syringomyelus,14 cases of diastematomyelia,6 cases of intraspinal cyst,6 cases of intraspinal lipoma.Nineteen cases of hydrocephalus were diagnosed by iconography,among which 5 cases complicated with caudal herniation of cerebellar tonsils.Seventeen cases of diastematomyelia,8 cases of intraspinal lipoma,6 cases of intraspinal cyst were detected and treated during operation.Three cases of intraspinal lipoma and 3 cases of osseous diastematomyelia were ignored by preoperative MRI reports.Two cases of intraspinal epidermoid cyst were misdiagnosed as general cyst.One case of teratoma who was not found on MRI was detected by operation and resected.Syringomyelus or syringomyelia was found in all the children complicated with hydrocephalus.Sixty-one cases(88.4％) among the 69 cases complicated with other nervous system anomalies.All of patients were followed up for 4-71 months,averaged 23.8 months.All of patients had no new symptom.Conclusions Children with meningomyelocele often complicate with multiple nervous system anomalies.Preoperative brain and entire spinal iconography,together with thorough intraoperative exploration,are very important so as to avoid omission the co-existed lesions during operation.