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Division of Neurosurgery, Ankara Numune Hospital, Ankara, Turkey An unusual case of spinal dysraphism in a 74 year old woman is reported. Patient was presented with slight lumbar pain and diagnosed coincidentally. Neurological examination was normal. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed tethered spinal cord, diastematomyelia, terminal syringomiyelia, and degenerative changes at lumbar levels. This case is an important example of untreated spinal dysraphism which reached 74 years of age without any complain. The real prevalence of adult asymptomatic spinal dysraphisms is unknown. With the advent of the MRI and long time follow-ups, the real prevalence of spinal dysraphisms may be found. The authors concluded that, if there is a possibility that tethered cord syndrome and diastometamiyelia may be asymptomatic during wholelife, it should be reconsidered whether early surgery in asymptomatic patients is mandatory. Keywords : dult, diastematomyelia, terminal syringomiyelia, tethered cord syndrome