To understand embryological developmental of spinal lipoma To classify spinal lipomas based on caudal spinal cord formation during embryogenesis.

Spinal cord development generally includes three phases namely gastrulation, primary neurulation and secondary neurulation. Gastrulation involves conversion of the bilaminar embryonic disk to a trilaminar disk composed of ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. Another critical event occurring along with gastrulation is the formation of notochord, cylindrical structure of mesodermal origin(Fig. 2). Primary neurulation involves closure of neural plates to form neural tube. Notochord invites the ectodermal cells to differentiate into neural precursor cells, forming the neuralplate. Closure of neural tube begins at the medial hinge point...

Spinal Lipoma Classification The diagnosis and classification of spinal lipomas were made on the basis of T1- and T2-weighted MRI using mid- and parasagittal views. Type 1: Primary Neurulation Failure Only Type 1 spinal lipoma is a typical form in which the lipoma-cord interface occurs on the dorsal surface of the spinal cord, while the conus medullaris is located distally or ventrally with respect to the caudal end of the lipoma. The subcutaneous fat mass penetrates the fascia and reaches the dorsalsurface of the dura...

Newly accumulated knowledge regarding development of the caudal neural tube is the key to understanding the new classification. Classification based on stages of embryogenesis has advantage of explaining spinal lipoma formation more seamlessly than other currently used classifications while demonstrating a practical correspondence to clinical features .

P. A. R; Chennai/IN - nothing to disclose G. Kathirvelu; Chennai/IN - nothing to disclose D. Jagannathan; 600031, TA/IN - nothing to disclose K. Geetha; Namakkal/IN - nothing to disclose D. Athul; Chennai/IN - nothing to disclose

1.Nobuhito Morota, MD,Satoshi Ihara, MD and Hideki Ogiwara, MD, PhD New classification of spinal lipomas based on embryonic stage J Neurosurg Pediatr 19:428–439, 2017 2. Chapman PH: Congenital intraspinal lipomas: anatomic considerations and surgical treatment. Childs Brain 9:37–47, 1982 3. Copp AJ, Greene NDE: Neural tube defects—disorders of neurulation and related embryonic processes. Wiley Interdiscip Rev Dev Biol 2:213–227, 2013 4. Pang D: Caudal agenesis and dysembryogenesis of the caudal spinal cord, in Pang D (ed): Disorders of the Pediatric Spine. New York: Raven Press,...