We report a rare case of primary intradural extramedullary myxopapillary ependymoma of the spinal cord. A 45-year-old woman was admitted to the author's institution with a history of progressive paraparesis(grade IV/IV) with back pain. Neurologic examination revealed decreased sensation below T12 sensory dermatome level. Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) revealed an intermediate enhanced intradural extramedullary tumor extending from T12. Total resection of the tumor was achieved by T12 laminectomy. Intraoperatively, there was no finding of attachment to rootlet and dura. Histopathological examination identified the tumor as a myxopaillary ependymoma. To the best of my knowledge, this is the first reported case of primary intradural extramedullary ependymoma in Korea.
Back Pain ; Ependymoma* ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Laminectomy ; Middle Aged ; Neurologic Examination ; Sensation ; Spinal Cord

Molded tympanic graft is beneficial in the difficult cases of middle ear surgery, for instance, total perforation of ear drum or revision surgery. For producing molded graft, it is essential to treat the graft material with physico-chemical methods. However, morphological change by influence to the epithelial migration by treatment of graft have not been clarified. To evaluate the morphological effects of molding process on the graft, human temporalis muscle fascias were taken and molded through drying, heating or treatment with chemical preservatives. Their ultrastructures were also evaluated using scanning electron microscope. In molding process, drying of fascia produced widening of interfiber space as well as flattening and fusion of fibers. Heating of fascia produced crater-like defects with amorphous matrix. Formaldehyde preservation induced more remarkable changes of fascia than alcohol.
Ear* ; Ear, Middle ; Fascia* ; Formaldehyde ; Fungi* ; Heating ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Transplants*