Anterior and lateral meningoceles

Abstract

Spinal meningoceles are protrusions or expansions of one or more layers of the thecal sac through a canal or foramen of the spinal column in which there is a defect. They are frequently found in a posterior location with the dysraphic vertebrae over the thoracolumbar region. Spinal meningoceles are most commonly observed at birth and constitute approximately 10% of all patients with spina bifida [1, 2]. Although non-dysraphic anterior, lateral, and anterolateral meningoceles in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine are very rare and frequently characterized by the absence of a congenital defect of the vertebrae, they are usually associated with neurofibromatosis 1 (NF-1) or Marfan's syndrome [1-8]. However, anterior lumbosacral meningoceles are a rare form of spinal dysraphism because of a bony defect. Their embryologic origin remains unclear, although there are several hypotheses [2]. Thoracic and/or lumbosacral spinal levels are the most common, with cervical localization being very rare [5-7, 9-11]. © 2008 Springer-Verlag Italia.