It is concluded that surgery should be the first choice for treatment. More aggressive teratomas are found in intramedullary locations, especially in children, emphasizing the importance of radical tumor resection. The use of adjuvant chemo- or radiotherapy should be explicitly substantiated for the nonbenign teratoma group.

No abstract

It is argued that with regard to a retained bullet in the vicinity of the spinal canal, the presence or absence of neurologic symptoms should be the guide for further diagnostic procedures. Only if a neurologic deficit develops, which is possible after many years, should surgical intervention be considered, depending on the severity and type of the deficit, as presented in this case report.

Objects In this study, a disjunction anomaly mimicking the spinal congenital dermal sinus (DS) is described. This anomaly is referred to as the dermal-sinus-like stalk. Dissimilarities between a true dermal sinus and a dermal-sinus-like stalk are discussed. Clinical material Three cases in which a spinal congenital dermal sinus was suspected are presented. A similar anatomical configuration, different from that of a dermal sinus, was found. All cases presented with a skin-covered dimple from which a solid tract was seen continuing intramedullary in two cases and intraspinally in one case. None of the patients presented with signs of infection or an associated dermoid-epidermoid tumor. Clinical, radiological, and surgical findings are discussed. A hypothesis is made on the pathological genesis of this malformation. Conclusion A dermal-sinus-like stalk is a malformation similar to a spinal congenital dermal sinus but is not associated with DS-related complications. Despite important clinical, radiological, surgical, and histopathological differences, it is difficult to distinguish this malformation from a true DS based on clinical and radiological examination alone. Therefore, surgical intervention, at the time of diagnosis, is recommended in all cases.