Spontaneous rupture and hemorrhage of myxopapillary ependymoma of the filum terminale: a case report and literature review.

We present a rare case of acute onset cauda equina syndrome caused by a ruptured myxopapillary ependymoma with accompanying hemorrhage. A 26-year-old healthy woman developed muscle weakness and sensory disturbances in her bilateral lower extremities. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a huge mass from the L1 body to the L2-3 disc level. She was able to ambulate with crutches after the tumor was successfully removed. To prevent recurrence, she received whole brain and spinal cord radiation. No sing of recurrence were detected at the 8 month follow up.