Human tail refers to a congenital cutaneous appendix protruding from the lumbosacral region. It is usually associated with an underlying spina bifida occulta, a form of spinal dysraphism. A contiguous fibrolipoma can sometimes be seen extending from the subcutaneous portion of the tail into the inferior spinal cord, resulting in tethered cord syndrome. Management of such lesions includes complete neurologic examination and magnetic resonance imaging. Early diagnosis and microsurgical intervention can prevent development or progression of severe neurologic defects in later life.
HarissonRG. On the occurrence of tail in man. Johns Hopkins Hosp Bull. 1901;12:96–101.
2.
DaoAHNetskyMG. Human tails and pseudotails. Hum Pathol. 1984;15:449–453.
3.
DubrowTJWackymPALesavoyMA. Detailing the human tail. Ann Plast Surg. 1988;20:340–344.
4.
OharaY. Human tail and other abnormalities of the lumbosacrococcygeal region relating to tethered cord syndrome. Ann plast Surg. 1980;4:507–510.
5.
ChakrabortySshizuoOYoshidaY. Myelomeningocele and thick filum terminale with tethered cord appearing as human tail. Case report. J Neursourg. 1993;78:966–969.
6.
TavafoghiVGhandchiAHabrickGWJrUdverhelyiGB. Cutaneous signs of spinal dysraphism. Report of a patient with a tail-like lipoma and review of 200 cases in the literature. Arch Dermatol. 1978;114:573–577.
7.
HoffmanHJTaecholarnCHendrickEBHumphreysRP. Management of lipomyelomeningoceles. Experience at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto. J Neurosurg. 1985;62:1–8.
8.
SpiegelmannRSchinderEMintzMBlaksteinA. The human tail: a benign stigma. Case report. J Neurosurg. 1985;63:461–462.
9.
SinghDKKumarBSinhaVDBagariaHR. The human tail: rare lesion with occult spinal dysraphism—A case report. J Pediatr Surg. 2008;43:e41–e43.
10.
VenkataramanaNKRaoSANaikALAwasthyNGuptaHSharmaK. The tale of a tail. J Pediatr Surg. 2008;3:142–145.
