EC Clinical and Medical Case Reports

Spinal neurenteric cysts are rare congenital lesions often associated with spinal dysraphism. Diastematomyelia is a malformation involving a split spinal cord divided by a bony or fibrous septum into two hemicords. The coexistence of these anomalies, particularly with a dorsal neurenteric cyst, is extremely uncommon. Here, we present the case of a 7-year-old girl who presented with lower limb weakness and gait disturbance. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed type II diastematomyelia extending from 12^th thoracic vertebra to 3^rd lumbar vertebra, a low-lying tethered cord, and a dorsal bilobed neurenteric cyst at the level of the 11^th and 12^th thoracic vertebrae. Surgical resection of the cyst and bony spur resulted in clinical improvement. This case supports the unified embryological theory of split cord malformations and highlights the importance of MRIs for diagnosis and surgical planning.

 Keywords: Diastematomyelia; Neurenteric Cyst; Spinal Dysraphism; Pediatric Spine; Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

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