Abstract
Background: Spinal cavernous malformations are rare, accounting for approximately 5-12% of all spinal cord vascular lesions. Fortunately, improvements in imaging technologies have made it easier to establish the diagnosis of intramedullary spinal cavernomas (ISCs). Case Description: Here, we report the case of a 63-year-old male with an >11-year history of left-sided radiculopathy, ataxia, and quadriparesis. Initially, radiographic findings were interpreted as consistent with spondylotic myelopathy with cord signal changes from the C3-C7 levels. The patient underwent a C3-C7 laminectomy/foraminotomy with instrumentation. It was only after several symptomatic recurrences and repeated magnetic resonance images (MRI) that the diagnosis of a ventrally-located intramedullary lesion, concerning for a cavernoma, at the level C6 was established. Conclusion: Early and repeated enhanced MR studies may be required to correctly establish the diagnosis and determine the optimal surgical management of ISCs.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Article number | A67 |
Journal | Surgical Neurology International |
Volume | 11 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 2020 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Cervical spine
- Complex surgery
- Diagnosis
- Excision
- Intramedullary spinal cavernoma
- Laminectomy
- Magnetic resonance
- Myelotomy