A huge ependymoma of the cervical spinal cord with subtle atypical manifestations and hyperhidrosis: Case report

INTRODUCTION: Ependymomas are the most common neuroepithelial tumors of the spinal cord, accounting for 50–60% of spinal cord gliomas. The nonspecific clinical presentation of a spinal cord tumor frequently results in delay of diagnosis with opposing outcomes. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We report a 34-year-old man presented with abnormally enhanced sweating on the left side of his neck, upper extremity, and chest that had been occurring for 1 year. In the sagittal MRI there were a centrally localized mass lesion extending from medulla and C1 to T2 vertebra level and expanding the cord. Surgical elimination of the tumor was performed with posterior midline approach and near total resection of tumor was achieved. CONCLUSION: Cervical intramedullary ependymal is a rare, slow growing spinal cord tumor. Attention to uncommon characteristics like hyperhidrosis might be an important key to early diagnosis of this rare spinal tumor. Surgical resection is the choice of treatment with infrequent recurrence.