Malignant Transformation of a Lipomyelocele into a Rhabdomyosarcoma? A.M. O’Connell

SUMMARY: We report the unusual transformation of a lipomyelocele to a rhabdomyosarcoma in a 3-year-old boy. A lipomyelocele is not considered pre-malignant, but the possibility of developing such a tumor may represent another reason for close neurological follow-up in patients with spinal dysraphism. Alipomyelocele is an intraspinal lipoma that is tightly at-tached to the dorsal surface of an open spinal cord.1 The spinal cord remains within the spinal canal unlike a lipomy-elomeningocele, in which the thecal sac herniates through the spina bifida. Lipomyeloceles are associated with tethering of the cord but not with malignancy.2 Case Report A spinal sonography was performed on the first day of life in a full-term neonate with a complex hemangioma over the sacrum (Fig 1). This showed the spinal cord ending in a sacral lipoma. The diagnosis of a lipomyelocele was confirmed by MR imaging at 3 months of age (Fig 2). The baby was managed conservatively with frequent neuro