A rare, congenital, non-syndromic malformation of neurenteric canal, spinal cord and column, characterized by intraspinal, predominantly intradural-extramedullary cystic mass located typically ventral to the spinal cord. Histopathology reveals columnar or cuboidal epithelium with or without cilia and mucus globules. Patients may be asymptomatic or present with signs and symptoms of compression of the spinal cord and associated nerve roots, such as focal weakness, progressive paresis, paresthesias, gait disturbance, or radicular pain. Concomitant congenital vertebral anomalies are frequently observed.

The neurenteric cyst is a rare lesion composed of heterotopic endodermal tissue. During the third week of human embryogenesis, the neurenteric canal unites the yolk sac and the amniotic cavity as it traverses the primitive notochordal plate. Persistence of the normally transient neurenteric canal prevents appropriate separation of endoderm and notochord. This results in a variable degree of communication between neural and enteric epithelium.