Intramedullary spinal cord ganglioglioma

ABSTRACT

Gangliogliomas are mixed neoplasms composed of 2 types of cells neuronal and glial cells. Spinal cord gangliogliomas are very rare and compromise 1.1% of all spinal neoplasms. About 70 cases of intramedullary spinal cord gangliogliomas have been reported in English literature. We report the case of a histologically confirmed intramedullary spinal cord cervical ganglioglioma removed with total resection without neurological deterioration. Ganglioglioma must be considered in the differential diagnosis of tumours affecting the spinal cord. As a rule, gangliogliomas are sharply delineated and well defined from surrounding tissues. Total removal or gross total resection can be done without any further neurological deterioration. In cases showing no sharp delineation from surrounding tissue, a subtotal tumour removal should be considered to prevent severe neurological deficits