Cervicothoracic spine duplication: a 10-year follow up of a neurological intact boy

Abstract

Spine duplication is a very rare condition with the literature being composed of only case reports. All previously reported cases were thoracolumbar spine duplications. Here, we report cervicothoracic spine duplication in a neurological intact male. According to our knowledge, it is the first case in the literature of cervicothoracic spine duplication. A 3-year-old patient presented to a primary physician with a complaint of short stature. He was referred to our department with suspected spinal deformity. Computerized tomography imaging revealed anterior bony structure duplication and posterior dysmorphic elements at the C5-T9 levels. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a syrinx cavity which splits cord at the duplication level and the relation of the syrinx with posterior mediastinum through anterior bone defect. He was followed up for 10 years. In the literature, spine duplication has been classified as a severe form of split cord malformation because of the concurrence of bone duplication with split spinal cord malformation (SCM). This case presents a distinct form of SCM which shows non-duplicated dural tube as unclassified and cervicothoracic duplication level without neurological deficitis. Treatment of SCM was based on removal of splitting fibrous/osseous process. Neurologic intact spine duplication could be followed up without surgical intervention.