Intramedullary clear cell ependymoma of the lower thoracic spinal cord: report of a new case

BACKGROUND: Clear cell ependymomas (CCEs) are a rare variant of tumors of the nervous system, the main location is the intracranial compartment. Special differential diagnosis should be done with oligodendrogliomas, neurocytoma, glioneurocytoma, astrocytoma, or metastatic renal cell carcinoma, lesions that somehow share cells with clear cytoplasm. Most of these lesions are benign but differential diagnosis is essential to decide further treatment. Few case reports of intramedullary CCEs have being published and there is no strict consensus on the diagnostic criteria. CASE DESCRIPTION: We hereby describe a new case of an intramedullary clear CCE with very few neurological symptoms, surgical treatment is satisfactory, histological and immunohistochemical analysis was confirmatory. After gross total resection and 3-year follow-up no recurrence of the lesion is evident. CONCLUSION: After this case presentation and review of the limited literature, it is evident that methodical clinical suspicion, radiological imaging combined with histological, and modern immunohistochemical techniques are essential for the diagnosis. Surgical options with gross total resection remain the cornerstone of its treatment. Neurophysiological monitoring is extremely useful to avoid postoperative morbidity.