Adult with sacral lipomyelomeningocele covered by an anomalous bone articulated with iliac bone: Computed tomography and magnetic resonance images

Abstract

The present paper reports and discusses a case of sacral lipomyelomeningocele with an anomalous long bone articulating with the left iliac bone in a 40-year-old female. That patient had a monozygotic twin sister who had normal spine. The findings were incidental during an evaluation for a urinary tract infection. The computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) images revealed sacral dysraphism, lipomyelomeningocele, tethered spinal cord, and profound subcutaneous fat in the sacrococcygeal region. In addition, an anomalous bony strut was demonstrated on the posterior aspect of the sacrum, covering the sacral defect and the associated lipomyelomeningocele. The 3-D CT images of the anomalous bone associated with the sacral lipomyelomeningocele and the putative embryologic process are presented with a review of the literature.

Lumbosacral lipomyelomeningocele with anomalous osseous limb in a 3-month-old female

“…Our patient, with documented intrauterine meningocele, presented at birth with a lipomyelomeningocele at the lumbar-sacral level associated with an osseous appendage. Similar anomalous findings have been reported previously by Lee et al and Wasnik et al ( 4 , 5 ). Wasnik et al described the appendage as a “rudimentary accessory limb,” while Lee et al argued that because of the absence of limb structures such as muscle, long bones, and digits, a more accurate moniker would be “anomalous bone associated with spinal dysraphism.” A number of similar cases have been previously described since 1975 ( 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ).…”