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Anterior and Lateral Meningoceles

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The Spina Bifida

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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].

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  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA

    James L. Frazier

  2. Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, USA

    George I. Jallo

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Frazier, J.L., Jallo, G.I. (2008). Anterior and Lateral Meningoceles. In: The Spina Bifida. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-0651-5_35

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-0651-5_35

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